LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



^^./^ .136 5" Bf 



PRESENTED BY 



UNITED STATES OE AMERICA. 



wim^^ 





H I STO R Y 



OF 



Bloomington and Normal 



IN 



McLean county, Illinois. 



CoMl'ILICD AND AkRANGED FROM TlIK I3kST A L'T H Oil I T I E S 



BY J. H. BURNHAM, 



OF BLOOMINGTON. 



BLOOMINGTON: 

J. 11. BURNHAM, PUBLISIIEII. 

1879. 

7.L- 



PREFACE. 



The history of Ijloomington and Normal, herewith given, was written tor the History 
of McLean county, Illinois, published by LeBaron & Co., of Chicago, and appears in the 
body of that work. Owing to the general design and arrangement of that pulilication, its 
. cost placed it out of the reach of many who wish to obtain the history of Blooiuington and 
Normal, and, at the request of friends, I have thought best to publish a small edition which 
can be sold at a price that will place it in the hands of all who may desire a copy. 

In this connection, I wish to remark that the preparation of this little work was, to the 
historian, almost a labor of love. As he progressed in the work, his interest in everything 
pertaining to the towns increased mitil he could scarcely lay aside the pen. He was aware of 
the great responsibility resting upon the writer of the first historical sketch, but has 
attempted conscientiously and fairly to arrange and present an impartial, authentic account 
of the events of our half century of history. The imperfections of the present work are, per- 
haps, more evident to its author than they possibly can be to the general reader, and such 
as exist, he hopes will be regarded with all proper indulgence. 

Great care was taken in verifying all statements — particularly those relating to the 
earliest events. The writer visited Pekin and Vandalia, and carefully examined all records, 
being, perhaps, the only person who has ever taken such pains to ascertain the facts of our 
early history. Only those who have been actually engaged in an enterprise of this kind, can 
properly estimate the difficulties and perplexities that must be encountered, and it is asking 
too much to expect the general public will be satisfied with what has been accomplished. 
Still, such as it is, we hereby present the little work, hoping our earnest ettbrts will be 
appreciated, and that our contribution to history will prove acceptable. 

It is with pleasure I retui-n thanks to the many friends who have assisted in the 
preparation of these chapters. 

.T. H. B. 



BLOOMINGTON. 

The territorry now included in the township of Bloomington is a part of our 
common county, and as such entitled to its share in the interest attaching to the 
general history of our State and nation ; but when we take it upon ourselves to learn 
the history of the six miles square called Bloomington, we find it almost impossible to 
divest general history from the local interest of the tract of land under consideration. 
It would be pleasant to go back to the time when all the country, north of the Ohio, 
was a French possession ; to glance at its first American baptism, in the year 1778, 
when Gren. Clarke with his Virginians captured the whole region from the British, who 
had taken it all from the French in 1763 ; to learn something of its early history as a 
portion of Virginia after Gen. Clarke returned from his expedition, at which time the 
whole tract was a dependency of Virginia, called Illinois County ; to look at the same 
country years later, when it was called the Northwest Territory, and to follow its 
fortunes as the Territory of Indiana, then as the Territory of Illinois from 1809 down 
to 1818, when the State of Illinois entered upon its independent career. In all these 
varying changes, the little spot of land we are now examining had a territorial share, 
but was peopled only by wild and savage Indians, who may have been intelligent enough 
to know the French from the English, but who were not citizensof whatever power for the 
time being was in possession of the land. It was not till 1822 that the territory now 
known as McLean County possessed a single white inhabitant; and when, in that year, 
the families of John Hendrix and John W. Dawson made a selection of sites for 
homes, they were the first permanent settlers in the county, and were also the first in 
Bloomington Township, of which we now propose'^to give an historical sketch. We 
have a right to suppose that long previous to the date we have mentioned important 
events transpired here, in which white people took important parts. It was here in 
this very region that Gen Hopkins' army was embarrassed in 1813, in his fruitless 
expedition from the Wabash toward the fort which was then standing at Peoria. It is 
probable that many a party of French and friendly Indians have camped in our old 
woods when on their way from Lake Michigan to Cahokia and Kaskaskia. Possibly 
the early Indian traders and hunters may have built trading-stations and occupied them 
for long periods, at points where our first settlers found partial clearings in the original 
forests. But perhaps it is not best to indulge ourselves in much speculation or supposi- 
tion on these topics, as we shall find our path obscure enough, following as we go the 
best authenticated records that are now available. 

BLOOMING GROVE, IN PAYETTE COUNTY. 

We find that the first white men who made marks which have in any manner 
entered into history were the Government land surveyors, who commenced the work of 
dividing and subdividing the fertile acres of McLean County in the year 1821. The 
final survey was not completed until October, 1823, when Blooming Grove Township 
was surveyed by P. M. Hamtramack. 

Our township has been situated in allegiance to many different counties. In 1817, 
Illinois being then a Territory, the county of Crawford was in power here. In 1819, 



a year after the State of Illinois had been admitted into the Union, Clark County had 
jurisdiction, while, in 1821, Fayette County was organized, extending northeast as far 
as the Illinois River, and to Fayette our first settlers owed allegiance. As under- 
stood at the time, Fayette reached to the Wisconsin line. This was the meaning of the 
act incorporating Fayette County, but as, by a previous law, Pike County included all 
north of the Illinois River, Fayette County could not enforce its claim to its mo.st north- 
ern territory. 

All this region of country now known as McLean County, east of the Third Prin- 
cipal Meridian, was situated in the county of Fayette, and thus remained until the 
development of the country several years later rendered it absolutely necessary that this 
immense tract should be subdivided into several counties. We will attempt to give the 
names of only a few of the first settlers of this township, mentioning some of the most 
prominent, but may, through inadvertence, omit others equally deserving. In 1822, 
John Hendrix and John W. Dawson, with their families, settled in the southern por- 
tion of Blooming Grove. There was with them in the same year a single man of the 
name of Segur, who, however, did not stay long in the settlement, he having sold his 
claim in 1823 to Mr. William Orendorfl:'. Mr. Dawson remained four years, when he 
removed to near the site of the old Indian town in Old Town Timber. During these 
four years, while his family lived at the Grove, there were no less than fifteen difi"erent 
families who made their homes here, so that Blooming Grove very soon became a well- 
settled community. Mr. Hendrix is entitled to the honor of being the first settler, as 
Mr. Dawson's family did not arrive till after Mr. H. had been here some weeks. Of 
the family of John W. Dawson, who came in 1822, we will here remark that two are 
now living in the city of Bloomington, having moved from Old Town many years ago. 
The oldest is Mrs. William Paist, whose first husband was Maj. Owen Cheney. She 
was about eight years old when her father moved to the Indian town. She was a great 
favorite with the Indian squaws, who often carried her to their homes, keeping her for 
days at a time, where the little girl was greatly pleased and interested. Mrs. P. does 
not even yet appear aged — scarcely elderly. She takes a great interest in society, and 
it seems hardly possible that this active lady has seen the full growth and development 
of Blooming Grove, of Bloomington City and of McLean County. Her brother, 
John Dawson, is the next oldest pioneer now living in our city. 

Mr. John Hendrix is deserving of mention, having been a consistent, devoted Chris- 
tian, who planted early good seed that has borne many fold. He has been honored by 
having the railroad station on the Central in the Orendorfi" neighborhood named after 
him, as well as the post office, and the true spelling of the name should be Hendrix, it 
being named for this good old pioneer. The first sermon in Blooming Grove was 
preached at the house of Mr. Hendrix, by Rev. James Stringfield, in 1823. Mr. Hen- 
drix labored in the settlement as a true Christian should, and very few who have lived 
in this county have left such a noble record. Men like Mr. Hendrix and Mr. Dawson 
should always be held in grateful recollection by our people, both of them having been 
men of great worth. With their two families, tVey accomplished a great deal of good 
in forming and molding the tone of society during the first two or three years of the 
infant settlement. They labored in every manner possible to induce the best class of 
emio-rants to settle as neighbors and used all the skill they possessed to persuade unde- 
sirable persons to move on or look further for more congenial neighborhoods. The 



strict, almost Puritanic, ways of the religious Mr. Hendrix naturally had the effect of 
impressing new-comers who were reckless and irreligious, with an aversion to his society, 
and would as naturally attract pious men, like Rev. E. Rhodes, who came in 1823 or 
1824, and the influence of all these early settlers was of lasting value. 

The influence of a few of the early pioneers in determining the class of settlers who 
were attracted to cast their lot in the same community, has often been referred to, but 
we find that in the case of Blooming Grove a great deal was accomplished in this direc- 
tion, in the first two or three years of its development, and in this manner we account 
for the fact that at the time of the location here of the county seat, there was no settle- 
ment of equal power and influence anywhere between Vandalia and the Wisconsin line. 

In the year 1823, William Orendorff" and wife arrived, with Mr. Thomas Orendorff", 
then a young man of twenty-three. In 1824, Mr. Goodheart and W. H. Hodge settled at 
the Grove, and about the same time Mr. William Walker and family, and enough others 
to bring the whole number of families up to about fifteen by the end of the year 1824. 
There were no exceptions to the general good character attributed to all of the first 
families, thus giving illustration to the old saying in regard to " birds of a feather." 

Our sketch, imperfect as it is, must not omit all mention of the Rhodes family. 
Ebenezer Rhodes came to the Grove in April, 1824. He was the first minister who 
settled at Blooming Grove, having been ordained in the Separate Baptists, before com- 
ing to Blooming Grove. Mr. Rhodes organized a small church at his own house, con- 
sisting at first of eight persons. This church held meetings at the house of John 
Benson and that of Josiah Brown, at Dry Grove. There had been occasional preaching 
before his arrival, but from this time forward he kept up regular ministrations. He 
appears to have been a natural missionary, and labored in all the young settlements within 
thirty or forty miles. No doubt he was induced to settle here by the presence of such 
men as John Hendrix, and the prospect that Blooming Grove would be the first settle- 
ment able to maintain a church and school ; and we thus see the good eflfect of the high 
character of the pioneers of 1822, who attracted men like Mr. Rhodes, who in turn 
exerted a similar influence upon later arrivals. In addition to his service as pastor, Mr. 
Rhodes was a man of mechanical knowledge — could make spinning-wheels, scats and chairs, 
and, as early as the first year of his arrival, set up a hand-mill for grinding corn, and in 
the next year built one that was run by horse-power. 

It would be pleasant to follow this good man in his various enterprises, but space 
forbids. He was the father of Capt. John H. S. Rhodes and Jeremiah Rhodes, both 
of whom came here in 1824, and who were among the best of our pioneers. The latter 
is still living, a hearty old gentleman, a connecting link between the past and the pres- 
ent. He remembers well the condition of the country in those early days. When his 
father arrived, the Kickapoo Indians were plentiful in this neighborhood. Their chief, 
Ma-Shee-na, ordered the Rhodes family and others to the south side of the Sangamon 
River, declaring that he had never signed the treaty which gave the whites porsession 
of Blooming (then called Keg) Grove. It appears that the old chief was sick at the 
time the treaty was signed, but had sent his son to treat with the whites and sign the 
articles. Ma-Shee-na threatened to burn the houses of the families here, but finally 
compromised by allowing them to remain until fall. When one regards the treacherous 
nature of the Indians, it looks as if the pioneers of 1824 ran a great risk in remaining, 
under the circumstances ; but the chief appears to have been a pretty good sort of an 



6 

Indian, worthy of the confidence reposed in him, and, in the end, the settlers either com- 
pletely won his good-will or, as is quite probable, so increased in numbers as to overawe 
the whole tribe. It has been a matter of some surprise to us that the name of this Indian 
chief, which we spell as pronounced, Ma-Shee-na, has not been preserved in this settle- 
ment. So far as we know, there is not in this neighborhood a single Indian name, with 
the exception of Kickapoo, which is the name of the creek that flows through 
Blooming Grove. 

The Kickapoos, a few Delawares, and some Pottawatomies were very plenty from 
1822 to 1829, and were generally very kind and friendly. The settlers became 
acquainted with them, knew their names, and in some cases formed friendships as perma- 
nent and kindly as many existing between the whites themselves. When the Indians 
left they were missed, and their absence as much regretted by some, as if they had been 
old friends. Most of them left before the end of 1829, though as late as the summer of 
1832, there were enough in this region within one hundred miles of the Grove, to 
cause grave apprehensions, this being the year of the Black Hawk war. 

Very few Indian traditions have been preserved, owing, probably, to the fact that 
the aborigines found by our early settlers were of a roving class, who came here from 
the eastern part, of the State, taking the places of other Indians who had preceded them. 
Had our pioneers fallen in with Indians whose ancestors long resided here, we should 
probably be able to gather some interesting Indian legends. The Grove was known as 
Keg Grove until 1824, and, in fact, the old name clung to it at a much later period. It 
is said that what are now called Sulphur Springs — formerly known as Hinshaw's Springs 
— formed a common camping-place for hunters and travelers long before the first set- 
tlers arrived. It was usual for parties to travel from the Wabash River to the fort at 
what is now Peoria, or from Chicago to St. Louis. In either case, these springs were a 
convenient stopping-place. 

Tradition asserts that at one time a party of white men hid a keg of rum at this 
point, probably intending to return for it in a short time. It was found by some Kiek- 
apoo Indians, who, no doubt, then possessed the richest '• bonanza" of their whole lives. 
The remarkable " find " was reported to the Indians all through this region, who named 
this locality " Keg Grove." 

The " first families " of our ancestors were not of the class who had any fancy for 
a name which suggested drunken Indians, rum, whisky or anything of the kind, and 
they believed it for the interest of the infant settlement that it should be rechristened, 
and to Mrs. William Orendorfl^ is generally ascribed the credit of suggesting the name of 
Blooming Grove, which proved a very suitable and acceptable name. This was about 
the year 1824. 

The first white female child born in McLean County was Elizabeth Ann Hendrix, 
daughter of John Hendrix, born May 3, 1823. The first death occurred in the family 
of Thomas Orendorfi", it being one of his children, who died in 1825. Mr. 0. laid out 
a family burying-ground at that time, which has become an established cemetery — the 
oldest in the county. The first white male child born in this county (now living) is 
John Lewis OrendorfF, son of Mr. Orendorff, who was born January 30, 1825. The 
first school was taught by Miss Delila Mullen, in the house of John W. Dawson, in 
1823, and it consisted at first of only five pupils. About the year 1825, a log school- 
house was built, the first in this county. The site is on what is now the Oliver Oren- 



dorff farm. In the course of a few years, there was another schoolhouse, on the west 
side of the Grove. 

In the year 1824, a class of Methodists was organized at the house of John Hen- 
drix, and it was kept up until the year 1838. 

The first blacksmith at the Grove was the Rev. Mr. 8ee, who lived in the Price 
neighborhood, and was here as early as 1826. He did little jobs of such work, though 
he was a Methodist minister and a farmer. 

Thomas Orendorfi" was born August 14, 1800, at Spartansburg, S. C. He came to 
Illinois in 1817, when this was a Territory, having been present at the birth of the 
new State, as well as a prominent actor in its subsequent development. He lived in 
several difierent places, having moved from Sangamon County, 111., to Keg, now Bloom- 
ing Grove, on the 2d day of May, 1823. Thomas Orendorfi" was then a single 
man, and made his home with his brother William, who accompanied him. He made 
a claim near the Mason farm, about three miles south of the city of Bloomington. 

October 5, 1824, he married Mary Malinda Walker, daughter of William Walker, 
one of our most prominent pioneers. This was the first wedding in Blooming Grove. 
The first in the county was the marriage of John Taylor to Temperance Stringfield, at 
Randolph's Grove in June, 1824. Rev. E. Rhodes married this couple, and at the 
close of the ceremony published a notice of the intended marriage of the young couple 
at Blooming Grove. He also posted written notices of their intention, and when 
the time arrived performed the ceremony. The newly-married pair moved into a cabin 
on Mr. OrendorflP's claim, where they made their home for a number of years, until Mr. 
OrendorflF, in his anxiety to be near the open prairie, convenient to a good stock-range, 
moved to what was then called Little Grove, nearly a mile east of Blooming Grove, fi^e 
miles southeast of our city, where, with his venerable wife, he is still living, both being 
in comparatively good health. It is rare, indeed, that we can find a couple who have been 
married fifty-five years, and when we take into account the severe pioneer life they have 
led, their good fortune seems almost wondei'ful. 

In Prof Duis' "Good Old Times in McLean County," we read: "When Thomas 
and William Orendorfi" settled in McLean County, the old chief of the Kickapoos ( Mr. 
O. now thinks these Indians were Dela wares) came with Machina (afterward their 
chief) and ordered them to leave. But the old chief spoke English in such a poor 
manner that Thomas Orendorfi" told him to keep still and let Machina talk. Then 
Machina drew himself up and said in his heavy voice: 'Too much come back, white 
man, t' other side Sangamon.' Mr. Orendorfi" told Machina that the latter had sold the 
land to the whites ; but Machina denied it, and the discussion waxed warm, and the 
chiefs went away, feeling very much insulted. Mr. Orendorff's friends considered his 
life very much in danger, and he was advised by Judge Latham, the Indian agent, to leave 
the county ; but he attended to his business aud was not molested. At one time, an 
Indian called Turkey came to Mr. Orendorfi", and gave him warning that Machina 
would kill him ; but no attempt was made to put such a threat into execution."' Mr. 
Orendorfi" still remembers many incidents in relation to the Indians. He says at one 
time he was talking with Machina about killing people. " You wouldn't kill a white 
man would you ?" said Mr. 0. " No," says the Indian, "I go hell and damnation," 
indicating that he knew the penalty as taught by the missionaries. Mr. Orendorfi' 's 
memory, as also that of his wife, is now somewhat defective ; and when we consider 



8 

their early, anxious experiences with the Indians, their pioneer life, and their old age, 
we only wonder at their being still alive and as comfortable as we now find them. 

Mr. Orendorif was always one of the leading men of the infant settlement. 
When the plans for a new county were fully matured, he was selected with Rev. James 
Latta, to go to Vandalia to secure from the Legislature an act of incorporation. These 
county projects were very numerous at that time, one of the principal matters before 
the Legislature being the proper consideration of the many county and county-seat 
projects presented from the newly-settled parts of the State. Our committee urged 
their claims so succes.sfully that the bill for the incorporation of McLean County wa& 
passed by the house in the forenoon and by the Senate in the afternoon of the same 
day. 

Mr. Orendorff has held several offices, having been the first Coroner of Tazewell 
County in 1827, when by virtue of his office he took the place of the County Assessor 
who had failed to qualify, and he assessed the immense territory, making a trip on 
horse-back to the settlements toward Ottawa and Hennepin, on the Illinois River. He 
was appointed Assessor and Treasurer for McLean County at its organization, and often 
acted in prominent positions. 

We cannot help regarding Mr. OrendorflP with a feeling of veneration akin to rev- 
erence. Here is a man who came to Illinois when it was a Territory ; who has witnessed 
the full development of our wonderful State ; who was one of the principal organizer)- 
of McLean County ; who has seen the full growth of our city ; who represents the 
pioneers of Blooming Grove, being with his wife among the last now living. 
Bloomington should take delight in honoring these noble people, and should be proud 
to acknowledge its appreciation of their lite-long services. 

This couple are the parents of eleven children. John Berry Orendorff, the oldest 
who lives on the farm adjoining his father's, is one of the best known of the large con- 
nection of Orendorfts. The others are all well known and all highly respected in their 
several homes, which are in a number of different States. 

Esquire William Orendorff 's name will frequently appear in this history, as he was 
one of the leading men of this settlement, in fact, of Central Illinois. He transacted 
mt)st of the public business of this precinct for several years. His children were four- 
teen in number, of whom three are living in this county. Oliver H. P. and John 
Lewis live in Blooming Grove, and are among the best known and most popular of our 
citizens. They have a brother at Cheney's Grove. 

The early settlers found here an abundance of game, consisting of deer, turkeys, 
wolves and the smaller birds and animals. The immense prairies formed most admira- 
ble pastures for deer, while the groves were the skulking-places of the large wolves that 
were very plenty. Some of the pioneers were mighty hunters, while in every family a 
gun was kept ready for the valuable game that might at any hour come within easy reach. 
The venison of those early days was a very convenient substitute for the meat-markets 
of modern times, and though not quite so sure to be found when wanted, was, in many 
instances, almost as indispensable. 

Deerskins, counskins and wolf-robes were important articles of commerce, and in 
the first stores kept a few years later by Allin, Covell and Gridley, these valuables were 
the leading staples, forming, with beeswax and honey, the most common payment 
from many a farmer who in after years sold his hogs and cattle by the hundred, 



though at the time we are now alluding to, from 1822 to 1827, there was no reliable 
market for these articles nearer than Vandalia, or the trading-points on the Wabash in 
Indiana. 

A full statement of the trials and difficulties encountered by our pioneers cannot 
be given in this place, as we are simply chronicling events ; but we might mention a 
few of the obstacles which they suffered from more than any others. The want of 
good markets, or, in fact, of any market at all, has been mentioned. The prairie fires 
were for years dreaded more than almost anything else. In early times, these fires 
would come rolling before the wind in the fall and spring, often sweeping away fences, 
farms or grain stacks, and causing severe losses. The settlers generally shared with 
each other after such disasters, dividing crops with those who had been unfortunate, or 
turning out day or night to fight fires, without the formality of an invitation. 

But the saddest trouble of all was the malarial sickness of the early times. 
Nearly every family was afflicted, disease and death being faced by all who ventured to 
remain in this country in the early days when the prairie sod was being broken and 
subdued. After the prairie laud was mostly improved, which brings us down as late as 
1855, the health of the settlements grew better, and for the last twenty-five years there 
has been comparatively little malarial disease. 

During the period that elapsed from 1822 to 1827, Fayette County had jurisdic- 
tion over all the territory now within the present limits of McLean County, and on 
north as far as the Illinois River. Vandalia, the county seat, was over one hundred 
miles distant. Blooming Grrove could exert but little influence in so large a district, 
and its inhabitants urged the formation of a new county. For many years, the only 
official in all this region was Mr. William Orendorff, who was commissioned in 1825, by 
Gov. Coles, Justice of the Peace of Fayette County. His jurisdiction extended almost 
indefinitely toward Wisconsin, The distance to Vandalia was so great that very few of 
the settlers ever visited the county seat, unless it was on business of the utmost impor- 
tance. There was one important State election while our pioneers were residents of 
Fayette County — that of 1824. 

At this election, there was great excitement on the slavery question. On its 
result depended the calling of a convention which would make the introduction of 
slavery possible, and by a close vote it was decided in favor of freedom. The sentiment 
of Blooming Grove was unanimously for freedom. The canvass of 1824, in the older 
settled portions of the State, was exceedingly bitter and animated ; but, in the natural 
course of events, people in a neighborhood which had only been settled two years could 
have had few opportunities for being acquainted with the politics of the State of which 
they had so recently become citizens. 

The population of Illinois increased from 55,000, in 1820, to 157,445 in 1830, an 
addition in ten years of 200 per cent. Population was then most dense on the Ohio 
River and along the Mississippi in Southern Illinois. All of Northern, Western, and 
a portion of Central Illinois, was in the possession of the Indians, of whom those in 
the northern part were hostile, or in a quasi-hostile condition. When our pioneers 
arrived here, the Indians intimated plainly that they preferred to have no white men 
north of the Sangamon River. North of the Illinois River, the settlers did not dare 
to locate ; and, from 1820 to 1830, the region of Central Illinois was almost debatable 
ground, only occupied by the most daring and hardy pioneers. 



10 

These pioneers flocked in rapidly, and took up the most desirable locations along 
the edge of the timher, holding every inch of ground once occupied, going forward 
with improvements and making homes for themselves and their families, giving this 
settlement, in the course of the few years during which we have watched its development, 
the name of being one of the best regulated of any in the State, and of possessing a 
remarkably enterprising population. 

Fayette County was evidently too large to be convenient, and, in 1826, it was 
divided, Vermilion County having been erected in that year, including the territory 
now under consideration. No wonder that this division was called for, when Vandalia, 
the county seat of Fayette County, was distant over one hundred miles. No wonder 
that the first couple married on the Mackinaw dispensed with a license, and in its stead 
posted notices of their intention and called on a Justice to perform the ceremony with- 
out the authority of the too great county of Fayette ! Blooming Grove, for one year 
was in Vermilion County, though very little county business was transacted during that 
year by citizens living in this locality. 

Blooming Grove contained about six thousand acres of the very finest timber to be 
found in the West. Nearly every acre was covered with tall, heavy trees, while the soil 
was of unrivaled fertility. It has been remarked, frequently, that nowhere in this State 
is there to be found such a large body of rich timber-land, as the general character 
of the soil, which is covered with a natural growth of trees, is not of the best for farm- 
ing purposes. The sudden development of this beautiful grove is shown by the fact 
that, in 1827, it was the happy home of no less than twenty families of industrious, 
well-behaved settlers, most of whom were surrounded by all the actual comforts, even if 
they lacked most of the luxuries, of life. 

These families formed at Blooming Grove a very important settlement, and began 
to be restive under the jurisdiction of Fayette County. In 1826, Vermilion County was 
formed, and its territory seemed to include the eastern part of what is now McLean. Our 
settlers, however, had little to do with either Fayette or Vermilion County, and it is 
difiicult to state the exact condition of afi'airs during this year. The records of the 
State Department at Springfield show that the most of the territory of McLean County 
was included in Vermilion County in the year 1826 ; but we find from a careful inspec- 
tion of the official records of Fayette County that during the year 1826 this portion of 
McLean was recognized as being within the limits of Fayette. The old settlers state 
that their being included in Vermilion was some kind of a " fraud," and that they never 
were properly citizens of the latter county. It is an historical fact that Fayette claimed 
jurisdiction here down to the time of the organization of Tazewell County in 1827, and 
also that our citizens recognized the demand, and hence we do not see much force 
in Vermilion's " technical " claim. It appears that at the March term of the Fayette 
County Commissioners' Court in 1826, it was "ordered that all that part of the county 
north of Township Seventeen (17) shall compose an election district, to be known by the 
name of the Orendorfi' Precinct, and the election therein to be held at the house of 
William Orendorfi", in said precinct ; and further, that William Orendorfi", John Benson 
and James Latta be appointed Judges of Election of the same precinct." x\n election 
was held on the 7th of August, 1826, and, on September 4, at the County Court, the 
proper fees were allowed these judges, and also to the clerks of the election — William 
iSee and William H. Hodge " in State paper at two for one." William Orendorfi" was 



11 

allowed his fees for returning the election to the county seat at Vandalia — 125 miles — 
at the rate of 10 cents per mile, also " in State paper at two for one."' The records of 
this county do not show that our settlement had any county business until 1825, when 
Joseph B. Harbert was appointed Road Supervisor, and these few entries which we have 
given are all the items of business that appeared to be of any interest to the inhabitants 
of Blooming Grove, who were so far removed from the county seat. Tt is interesting to 
note how large a district was comprised within the " OrendorfF Precinct " organized by 
the above-mentioned order of Fayette County. It included the northern portion of the 
present county of Macon, most of DeWitt, Piatt, McLean, and, in fact, a strip of 
country of the sanie width from east to west in Fayette County, and extending north as 
far as the Illinois River, or to the Wisconsin line, in Fayette County, was generally 
understood at that time to include all the territory between its southern boundary and 
the northern line of the State. It would be of great interest could we give the list of 
voters who attended this first election, but the papers have been lost or mislaid. 

The records show that James Allin was one of the Fayette County Commissioners 
from 1822 to 1825, and judging from the frequency with which his name appears, he 
must have been a valuable member. He thus acquired influence and position, and 
when he moved to Blooming Grove at a later date, he was, of course, well known to our 
leading citizens. The books of the Circuit Clerk's office at Vandalia do not show that 
a single case of either criminal or civil action ever appeared there from this settlement, 
neither do the records give any evidence of the recording of deeds or mortgages. As 
the land-sales had not then taken place, there could, of course, be no use for such 
records. There are a few records of marriages, the last one being that of Jacob Spawr 
to Eliza Ann Trimmer, who were " published," no license having been asked for, and they 
were married by William OrendorfF December 30, 1826. Blooming Grove, it appears, 
became known at the county seat in rather a vague and indefinite manner, but was too 
remote to receive much attention, 125 miles being too far even for those pioneer days. 
Fayette County was destined to be subdivided, and in its division our territory was to 
undergo several important changes of jurisdiction. 

In the year 1827, the county of Tazewell was organized, and the career of Blooming 
Grove while under its control will form our next chapter. 

BLOOMING GROVE IN TAZEWELL COUNTY. 

When the new county of Tazewell was organized, in 1827, Blooming Grove was 
its most important settlement. We find its inhabitants had now no cause of complaint, 
as they were among the most influential of the leading citizens. The records of Taze 
well County show that its first County Commissioners' Court was held April 10, 1827, 
at the house of Mr. William Orendorff". This Court consisted of James Latta, of 
Blooming Grove ; Benjamin Briggs and George Hittle, from other parts of the county. 
Of the new county's first officials, John Benson was Treasurer ; Thomas Orendorfi", 
Coroner ; and W. H. Hodge, Sherifi^ — all of Blooming Grove. The next meeting of 
the Court was held at the house of Ephraim Stout, at Stout's Grove, and the first piece 
of probate business transacted in the new county related to one of the residents of 
Blooming Grove — Mrs. Benjamin Cox. 

Among the pioneers of Blooming Grove, we find no one more worthy of men- 
tion than Mrs. Benjamin Cox. Her husband had come here in 1825, had purchased 



12 

of John W. Dawson an improved claim with a log cabin ; had returned to Ohio 
for his family and died within a few weeks after his return. His widow, the mother of 
eight children, determined on emigrating, and with this large family braved the dangers 
of the long road, and arrived at Blooming Grove, September 23, 1826. When we consider 
the difficulties which the stoutest men encountered at that day, the bravery of this lady 
entitles her to the front rank among our pioneers. April 25, 1827, we find from the 
Tazewell records, Mrs. Felina Cox, widow of Benjamin Cox, was appointed guardian of 
Aurelius, Benjamin, Nancy and David Cox, with William OrendorfFand William Walker 
as securities in the sum of $1,800. Mrs. Cox came here when Indians were plenty, 
when only the bravest men had courage to penetrate into this wilderness, and she 
deserves to be mentioned among the heroines ot Illinois. 

The first blacksmith on the south side of Blooming Grove was a man of the name 
of Dow, who came in 1829. The neighbors turned out and built him a shop, rejoicing 
at now being able to obtain blacksmithing near their homes. Mr. Dow only remained 
a short time. The first stock of goods was kept by Mr. Black, in 1828 or 1829, at the 
house of Mr. William Orendorff". The first shoemaker seems to have been Mr. Will- 
iam Orendorfi', who frequently made and mended shoes for his neighbors, who would 
gather corn or do some other farm work for him inpayment. The first blacksmith and 
carpenter work was accomplished in the same manner by the more ingenious of our 
pioneers, as during those early times, the mother of invention, " necessity," was ever 
present to stimulate all to deeds and works the actors hardly supposed themselves capa- 
ble of performing. In fact, this statement is true even in these times, when our states- 
men, our generals and our capitalists arise from the most humble surroundings, brought 
to perfection by necessity, or in other words, by the genius of our free institutions. 

Mr. William Orenddrfi" was made Justice of the Peace in Tazewell County, and 
filled the office for many years. Judging from the early records he married a large 
number of young couples. He married the first couple that wedded in this region after 
Tazewell was organized, Abram Hobbs to Elizabeth Evans, June 25, 1827; Miss Evans 
was a daughter of the William Evans who afterward settled in what is now the city of 
Bloomington. The same year, he married Amos Lundy to Susannah Copes, August 16, 
and the next year, on the 1st of January, 1828, John Kimler to Mary Cox. The lat- 
ter were residents of Blooming Grove, as were John Cox and Elizabeth Walker, who 
were married March 18, 1828. October 23, 1828, -James Hodge was married to Minerva 
J. See. All these were married by Mr. Orendorfi", who seems to have carried on a lively 
business. Blooming Grove was gay with weddings in those times — as James Benson 
married Polly Hinshaw, November 16, 1828; while January 1, 1829, Henry Miller married 
Temperance Evans, daughter of William Evans. This last was a real Bloomington 
wedding, the first, probably, that ever occurred within the present limits of the city of 
Bloomington. The bride of that day, now Mrs. Jane Whitcomb, is still living at Old 
Town, in this county. Three more weddings took place in the year 1829 — Richard 
Grass to Elizabeth Maxwell, William Maxwell to Mrs. Elizabeth Hobbs, and James 
Walker to Jane Brock. Within a little over two years, we thus find there were eight 
or nine marriages of Blooming Grove couples, indicatmg a degree of enterprise that 
has not been surpassed by any of the later inhabitants. 

June 25, 1827, it was ordered that a new voting precinct, to be called Blooming 
Grove, be formed of all that part of the county, east of Range 3, and north of Town 



13 

22. This voting precinct was therefore thirty-six miles from east to west, and extended 
from the south line of Bloomington Township, to the northern line of Tazewell County 
on the north. The first election was held at the house of John Benson, and the first 
Judges of Election were E. Rhodes, Henry Vansickle and William Orendorfi". This 
immense territory was erected into a road district, and Joseph B. Harbord was made 
Koad Supervisor. 

The first grand jurors from Blooming G-rove Precinct were William Orendorff, 
John H. S. Rhodes, William Walker, L. Hurst, Peter McCullough and William Gil- 
ston, whose names were drawn August 7, 1827. From this time until the year 1831, 
when the new county of McLean was organized, the residents of Blooming Grove trans- 
acted county business at Mackinaw, the county seat of Tazewell, only about twenty 
miles away, and the transition from the far-away county seat at Vandalia was found most 
convenient and agreeable. There was, in those days, but little business to be attended 
to, but it was promptly despatched. We find that the first road in this region was laid 
out in 1827, from "the upper point of Kickapoo and Salt Creek, to the northeast corner 
of Blooming Grove, thence to the Dry Grove, thence to Mackinaw to the east end of 
Main street." This was the first legal road in Bloomington. 

One of the great difficulties of the pioneers, was the want of mills for making flour 
and meal. Most of the streams of this region are liable to go dry in summer, and were 
always a poor dependence ; but at this early time, very few good mills had been erected 
in this vicinity. It was no uncommon thing for teams to go to mill all the way to 
Attica, on the Wabash, in Indiana, distant 120 miles, or to Perry ville, 110 miles. 
They often went to the Sangamon, over 50 miles, to the Kankakee, 70 miles, and to 
Green's mill, on the Fox River, above Ottawa, over 60 miles. When Whistler's mill 
was built on the Mackinaw, in Tazewell County, it was considered quite a convenience, 
although over 20 miles from Blooming Grove. Various were the expedients for dis- 
pensing with these long trips. One of them was pounding corn in a piece of hard 
wood, hollowed out on the principle of the pestle and mortar, and another was the horse- 
mill. These mills were erected in nearly every settlement ; one being made here, a hand- 
mill, by Ebenezer Rhodes, in 1824, and one in the winter of 1830, a horse-mill, by 
Isaac Baker. The mill-stones were common " nigger-head " stones, from the surface of 
the prairie, held in a frame in such a manner, that a horse traveling in a circle would 
set them in motion. After the wheat was ground, the flour was separated from the 
bran by sifting it through a bottom of two cloths, by which the flour was separated. It was 
rather a wasteful method, and very slow, but it generally happened that the flour thus 
obtained made good bread. Possibly our modern " new process " flour, from the best Kan- 
sas wheat, tastes less sweet to our palates than did the home-made article of fifty years 
ago. Crushing corn, however, was the principal work of these mills. Small water- 
mills were constructed, wherever there was an opportunity ; mostly, however, at a later 
day. There was even one on Sugar Creek, near the present city of Bloomington, built 
by Samuel Lander, which did good service foi several years, but later than the time of 
which we are now speaking. It stood but a short distance below the old Pekin road, 
and the old dam is still to be seen. A mill was built on the Kickapoo, and several on 
the Mackinaw, but the settlers, in 1829, longed for a reliable steam-mill that would 
never go dry. All these difficulties were met, however, by a cheerfulness peculiar to 
these pioneers. They were almost surrounded by Indians, of whose friendship they 



14 

were never sure, being, in fact, in one of the frontier counties of the State, Woodford 
not yet being organized, the territory of Tazewell extending to the Illinois River, 
north of which was the disputed ground, where, in 1831 and 1832. Black Hawk's 
bands roamed and massacred at will, and the public mind was in constant alarm from 
rumors of anticipated outbreaks. There were also bold and venturesome settlers scat- 
tered along the groves and creeks of Woodford, at this time citizens of Tazewell, and 
also a few in the Vermilion timber, in what is at the present time in Livingston County, 
but who were, at this date, included in the county of Tazewell. We shall see, in a 
short time, that at a later period Blooming Grove and its neighbors raised a company 
of rangers for sixty days' service on the frontier of McLean, who, under Capt. J. H. 
S. Rhodes, performed good service from the head of Mackinaw to the Vermilion, besides 
hearing of more impoitant work in the Black Hawk war. 

Our settlers were occupied in not only securing an education for their children, in 
clearing and fencing farms, raising food and obtaining clothing, but they were compelled 
to think of their defense against a common enemy, and we need not wonder that their 
lives were anxious and laborious. We are surprised that they found time to participate 
in the Presidential elections of 1824 and 1828, which took place during this period. 
Tradition informs us that the voters were generally Jacksonians — even as late as 1832, only 
six in the county having voted for Jackson's opponent. In 1824, the State gave two 
electoral votes for Jackson, and one for Adams, and the indignation of citizens in this 
part of the State knew no bounds when the election of Adams was proclaimed. In 1828, the 
vote was for Jackson, with little opposition except on State and minor officers. Elections in 
those days were different from what we have seen in later years. People voted for men, and 
not as much for measures. Party lines hardly existed, or if they did, the State was so 
strongly Democratic that opposition was confined to a choice of candidates. Nomina- 
tions were not made by conventions until in later times. Men became candidates and 
ran for office on their merits, and the result, perhaps, was about the same as now, 
though the means for accomplishing it might differ. To vote against a candidate par- 
took of the nature of a personal affront, and many of the contests were peculiarly 
bitter and aggravating. Offices were sought for with as much avidity as at present. 
In the formation of new counties men saw opportunities for new offices as tempting, 
no doubt, for their honors as we have seen them in later times for their emoluments. 

The center of population and influence was in the Orendorff neighborhood, about 
four miles southeast of our city, where, at William Walker's house, Mr. Allin opened a 
store late in 1829, where there was, as early as 1824, a log schoolhouse, and where^ from 
indications, it was thought, as early as in 1826, quite a village might one day be built. 
Blooming Grove was, in 1827, well settled as a farming neighborhood. It was surrounded 
on all sides by a belt of farms, some of them quite large, all of them valued highly by 
their owners. These owners had most of them built comfortable log houses, had con- 
structed many miles of rail fences, and had broken and cultivated a large area of prairie- 
land. They were employed, as were all the pioneers of the day, in subduing nature, but 
with it all they were social and happy, having a care for the morals and education of 
their growing families, and making for the times one of the pleasantest settlements in the 
new and growiug State. There was in the neighborhood more than the usual amount of 
warm-hearted friendship and neighborly affection. All were equal in social state and 
dignity. Fashion was not then the inexorable goddess we are accustomed to meet in 



16 

these modern — perhaps we may add — these degenerate days. Our pioneers were proud 
to be attired in home-spun, woven by the busy housewife of the period, while such a 
thing as a carriage or buggy was unknown in Blooming Grove. Husbands went to 
church on foot; their wives rode the horses, carrying with them such of the children as 
were too young to make their way by walking. If the good wife was clad in a calico of 
durable texture and fast color she was as happy as the fine ladies of to-day robed in vel- 
vets and sealskins. The religion of the times favored a very rigid and severe adherence 
to plain and unadorned attire, making, as it would almost look to us, rather a virtue of a 
necessity, although a few years later, when the rapid accumulation of wealth rendered 
display a matter of easy accomplishment, we shall find large numbers of the pioneers, 
from motives of principle, refraining as carefully from any vain show or unnecessary orna- 
ment as they did in the primitive times of which we are now writing. 

For neighbors, the Blooming Grove farmers had the settlers in Eandolph's Grove, 
Dry and Twin Groves and Funk's Grove, voting in the same precinct with most of them 
at first, while they knew all the inhabitants along the Mackinaw, from its head to far 
below the old town of Mackinaw, in Tazewell County, with which county, it must be 
remembered, they were attached until a year after the period we are now discu.ssing. The 
families at Cheney's Grove were also neighbors and friends, while people living in ?*Iacon 
and Sangamon Counties were almost as well known as those " around the Grove." Young 
women then thought nothing of a walk- of five or six miles to make calls, while for visit- 
ing, a ride of thirty miles over the prairie was as easy as one could wish. 

The early pioneers, those who came previous to October, 1829, could not obtain 
a legal title to their farms, as the General Government did not offer the land here for 
sale until October, 1829. Before this time all the land was held by "claims." The 
settlers had an agreement among themselves by which they allowed a man to " claim " 
about as much timber-land as he might need, generally not over 160 acros, upon which 
he might build his cabin and make his other improvements ; and woe unto the speculator 
or new-comer who should attempt to " claim " land already occupied by a bona-fide settler. 
Blooming Grove was nearly all taken by these claimants before the land came into market, 
and some of the prairie adjoining was, of course, taken in the same manner. These 
claims were bought and sold, the purchaser coming into possession of the improvements 
together with whatever rights were considered as appertaining thereto. Many quarrels 
ensued from this state of affairs, though we do not find that Blooming Grove was the 
scene of any difficulties of much note. 

When the land-sales came off in October, 1829, at Vandalia, there was a gathering 
of pioneers from the townships offered for sale, at which no speculator was allowed to 
purchase until all settlers had made their selections ; rather a high-handed proceeding, 
as it would now appear, but one which was justified by the condition of the infant 
settlements. 

The records at our Court House show that John Hendrix entered the first tract 
of land in the Grove, October 9, 1826 ; but as he purchased the adjoining eighty on 
the 9th day of October, 1829, at which time the land all came into market, there is 
almost a certainty that the first record is an error, and that he bought both pieces at the 
same time in 1829. 

A tract of eighty acres was entered on the 9th of October, 1829, in the names of 
Seth and Isaac Baker. On the next day, October 10, it appears that no less than 



16 

eighteen of the pioneers of Blooming Grove entered their farms, indicating that a jolly 
crowd went from here to Vandalia at that time. Within a short time after this, it 
appears, nearly the whole settlement secured their homes. 

Many of our pioneers borrowed money at the exorbitant rate of twenty-five per 
cent interest, in order to secure their farms. There was at that time no usury law in 
the State. There were very few capitalists, money being very scarce indeed. Some of 
the early settlers found it impossible to hold and pay for their farms at these rates, 
although they paid such a low price for the land. 

Quite a number of our pioneers borrowed money for their farms of Dr. R. H. Peebles, 
of Vandalia, and his name appears frequently on our early records. He was regarded 
as a man of wealth, having loaned money over a large area. We have stated that this 
region was taken ofi" from Fayette County, in 1826, and included in Vermilion County 
for a time. In 1827, Tazewell County was formed, as we have mentioned, and, in 
1829, its boundaries were re-arranged, and the eastern portion of Tazewell, including 
Blooming Grove, was contained, nominally, within the limits of Vermilion from 1829 
to 1831, but attached to Tazewell for county purposes. In the records of the County 
Commissioners' proceedings at Pekin, this district is often spoken of as the " attached " 
portion of Tazewell County. County lines were understood to be in a formative condi- 
tion, and it was entirely uncertain where they would eventually be permanently estab- 
lished, and hence one can realize that there was great interest felt in all schemes for the 
formation of new counties. The territory under consideration was " in the market," so 
to speak — ready for any project that might promise to benefit the interests of Blooming 
Grove. For several years, there was quite a conflict between the interests of a portion 
of the people living in what was then the " attached " portion of Tazewell and those in 
the western part of the same county. The latter were not by any means united in their 
interests, as Pekin was aspiring to become a county seat, while Mackinaw was striving 
to retain the prize then held. 

One of the last acts of the Tazewell County Court afi'ecting the interests of 
Blooming Grove Precinct was at the June term of 1830, when Judges of Election 
were appointed. They were John Benson, John Hendrix and John Cox. The election 
was ordered to be held at the house of William Evans. This being the year during 
which the project was carried out for the formation of a new county, and, having taken 
place after Mr. James Allin had opened his store at this point, it is altogether probable 
that Mr. Allin favored the holding of this election at the house of Mr. Evans, in order 
to enlighten the inhabitants of the Grove as to the eligibility of this locality as a site for 
the county seat, although the mere fact of his store being here might have been the 
main element of " centrality " that entered into the case. At all events, it is quite cer- 
tain that this election at the house of Mr. Evans was the first public meeting of any 
kind that was ever held in the city of Bloomington. 

We are now approaching the time when the new county of McLean was organized, 
and it is possible some of the actors may have been interested in the manufacture of new 
offices, as much as others were in the location of new county seats, and the combination 
of these inducements no doubt contributed to the formation of the county of McLean, 
as well as to the location of its capital, which was to grow into the thriving city of 
Bloomino-ton. It will, of course, be remembered that Blooming Grove was in Fayette 
County until 1827, when the northern portion of Fayette was organized into the county 



17 

of Tazewell, on the plea that the increase of settlement rendered it impossible to hold 
this region as a dependency — one hundred miles from the county seat at Vandalia. 
The new county, Tazewell, had its capital at Mackinawtown, only twenty miles distant, 
and hence our settlers had not the excuse of inaccessibility, as before. Other reasons, 
however, existed for the organization of a new county, a careful examination of which 
will show good cause why a new county should be authorized. Tazewell County, as it 
then existed, stretched from the Illinois River to the present line of Iroquois County, 
or in that neighborhood, on the east, and to the Illinois River on the west and north, an 
immense territor3'^, now occupied by about seven or eight counties. This district was 
lapidly filling with industrious settlers, and it was seen that new counties must be 
carved out of this territory at no distant day. The problem for those interested here 
at Blooming Grove was, to detach sufficient timber-land from Tazewell to form a 
good county. Prairie was then reckoned as so much waste — little better than a desert. 
After considerable scheming, a petition was taken to Vandalia by Thomas Orendorff and 
Mr. James Latta, who secured from the Legislature a law for the formation of a new 
county, to be called McLean, which was detached from Tazewell at the session of 1830 
and 1831. 

The name McLean was given in honor of John McLean, who had been a Repre- 
sentative in Congress, and was greatly respected. He had also been twice a member of 
the United States Senate, and died in that office in 1830 ; and his death being a recent 
event, it was natural that a new county should be named for the magnanimous, noble 
man, who never had an enemy in his life. The law provided that a Commission should 
meet in the new county and proceed to locate its county seat, which was accomplished, 
as we shall briefly reliite ; but we will first take a view of what was evident to those who 
were actors in the events of the times. 

We should also mention that by this time there were a number of families along 
the Mackinaw, a good many at White Oak and Stout's G-rove, while Dry and Twin 
Groves, Randolph's Grove, Old Town Timber, Buckles', Cheney's, and in fact all the 
groves were peopled with settlers ; and in some places there was still left good tim- 
ber-land unclaimed, which, in a short time, as was well understood, would be as fully 
occupied with families as were the other tracts of timber in the county. In all this dis- 
trict the only trading-place was the store of James Allin, removed from the house of 
William Walker to what is now Bloomington, and situated at what is now the southeast 
corner of Grove and East streets. Of course, Mr. Allin did not supply all the goods 
that were used, as Mackinawtown contained stores, while many goods were purchased 
at Springfield, at Peoria, and at towns on the Wabash and other places. But it was 
foreseen that the new county seat would be a place of considerable importance, even to 
supply the trade already existing, while with the increase of settlement expected, busi- 
ness would become at some future time, extensive enough to sustain considerable of a 
town. 

Mr. James Allin had opened his store at his new location in 1830, and made a 
purchase of land where the city of Bloomington now stands. Before the law organizing 
McLean County was passed, Mr. Allin formed his plans to secure the county seat, 
though we cannot say just how much mention he made of his designs. The famous 
deep snow came in the winter of 1830 and 1831, and was the means of preventing the 
assembling of the county seat Commission on the " second Monday of February, or in five 

B 



18 

days thereafter ; " but as soon as possible, as they say in their report, they made their 
selection oF the site for the permanent county seat of McLean County. 

A location was shown the Commission in the Orendorff neighborhood. At this 
time in fact from 1823, WilUam and Thomas Orendorff were the most substantial set- 
tlers or very nearly so, were very influential, and they were men who could, no doubt, 
have secured the county seat near them, in what was then the oldest and best settled 
part of the Grove, had they made the attempt. Mr. William Orendorff remarked that 
he would not have his farm cut up by a little town, and made no effort, though impor- 
tuned by some of his neighbors. Mr. James Allin was always grateful to Mr. Oren- 
dorff for the stand he took. It was agreed by all parties that the name of the new 
county seat should be Bloomington, and it was thus named in the act incorporating 
McLean County. 

Mrs. William Orendorff, a lady of more than ordinary talent, better educated than 
the majority of the early settlers, and, withal, a person of fine personal appearance, ap- 
pears to be entitled to the honor of changing the name of Keg Grove to Blooming 
Grove, in 1824. From this, the transition to Bloomington seemed very natural and 
proper, and the name met with very general approval all over the county. 

The county seat of Monroe County, Ind., was named Bloomington April 10, 1818, 
over twelve years before our town was laid out ; so we cannot claim to have originated 
the name. There are now no less than thirteen Bloomingtons in as many different 
States, but our city is much the largest and most important of all. 

A post office was established here, named Blooming Grove, with Rev. William 
See, Postmaster, on the 29th of January, 1829. Mr. See was the Methodist minister 
of this circuit for several years. He lived in this settlement much of the time after 
1824, though in 1831, at the time of the location of Bloomington, he was living in 
Randolph Grove. Mr. See improved the >Price farm on the east side of the Grove, and 
here the first post office was kept for a little over one year. 

During the years between 1822 and 1831, all of Blooming Grove was either bought 
or " claimed" by settlers, and it was occupied by a class of hard-working, intelligent 
farmers who were bent on clearing their land, making good homes for their families, with 
little thou^i^ht of the glorious futui-e in store for their settlement. Let us take a clear, 
unobstructed view of the condition of Blooming Grove Settlement as it existed in 
1830 before McLean County was organized, when Bloomington had no existence, and 
in so doing we shall prepare our way for a better understanding of what followed. We 
have seen that the whole grove was occupied at the date we have selected. We find 
there were fifty families of whom we have learned the names, and it is likely there may 
have been a few others. The names of the heads of families are John Hendrix, Rev. 
B. Rhodes, Jeremiah Rhodes, William Orendorff, Thomas Orendorff, Rev. James Latta, 
Henry Little, John H. S. Rhodes, William Goodheart, William H. Hodge, William Lind- 
ley Mrs. Benjamin Cox, David Simmons, John Benson, James Benson, George 
Hinshaw, Sr., William Chatham, Moses Dunlap, William Waldron, Anthony Alberry, 
William Thomas, John Canady, James Canady, Oman Olney, Joseph Walker, Sr., 
W^illiam Michaels, John Lindley, Joseph Bailey Harbord, Achilles Deatherage, William 
Walker, Timothy M. Gates, William Lucas, John Cox, Dr. Isaac Baker, Maj. Seth 
Baker H. M. Harbord, Parr Rathbone, John Mullen, Michael Allington, Nathan Low, 
John Benson, Jr. and Benjamin Depew. 



19 

Of single young men living in Blooming Grove in 1830 and 1831, we have the 
names of David Cox, Aaron Rhodes, Samuel Rhodes, Joseph Walker, Jr., Wilson 
Lindley, Cheney Thomas, Solomon Walker, Hiram Harbord, Moses Baker, Elliott Baker, 
William T. T. Benson, Jesse Benson, William Olney, Sylvanus Olney, Franklin Gates, 
Timothy Gates, William Canady, John Walker, Johnson Lucas, John D. Baker, James 
Rhodes, James K. Orendorff. 

It is possible some of the above may have been rather young to be called men at 
the time indicated ; while it is likely there were a number of young men living in the 
settlement whose names are not mentioned in the foregoing list. 

The following heads of families were living within what are now the city limits of 
Bloomington before the town was laid out, in 1830, while it is probable a few others — 
among them Dr. Baker and Rev. Mr. Latta — should also be included in this list ; but we 
have placed them in the list of those living in the Grove. In the whole settlement, there 
were fifty families : Henry Miller, James Tolliver, James Allin, John Greenman, Will- 
iam Evans, John Maxwell, John Kimler and James Mason lived in what is now the 
city of Bloomington. 

Of young men then living in what is now the city of Bloomington, we find Will- 
iam Dimmitt, William Evans, Jr., Frank Evans, William Durley, Merritt L. Covell, W. 
H. Allen, William Greenman, Esek Greenman, Samuel Durley, John Durley and Sam- 
uel Evans. 

A few of the latter were hardly grown men. The Guthries were not living here 
till just after the sale of lots, in 1831, after which time, we find them in Bloomington 
settlement, though living at first in what is now Major's Grove. Adam Guthrie and 
his brother Robert E. were among the most active of our early residents. 

We have taken a great deal of pains to ascertain the names of all heads of fami- 
lies who were here in 1830 and 1831, before the sale of lots, and believe we have 
obtained nearly a full list. Of the names given as single men we do not feel quite as certain, 
though it probably includes the most of those living here at the time. We have men- 
tioned but few of those who were boys at that day, though it is evident there were a large 
number of children in the fifty families here at Blooming Grove. It is probable that 
the population of the settlement on the 4th of July, 1831, was between two hundred 
and fifty and three hundred — indicating a solid basis for the new town of Bloomington, 
which was about to start upon its career of fame and prosperity. By this time, many of the 
farmers at the Grove were in quite comfortable circumstances, and their growing ability 
to purchase comforts and luxuries for their families formed a much better basis for the 
establishment of a town than was dreamed of by the most of the pioneers of the day. 

We have thus sketched, briefly, the outline of the early history of Blooming 
Grove, and have tried to make it perfectly clear that it was a thrifty, well-ordered, sub- 
stantial farming neighborhood, of itself almost sufficiently important to found and build 
a village of considerable future importance ; while its location was such that the sur- 
rounding settlements were tributary to Blooming Grove, as a natural center. Taking 
this view of the matter, we see satisfactory reasons for the locating here of the county 
seat of the new county, and can proceed from this point with the history of Blooming- 
ton, remarking that Blooming Grove, as a part of the precinct, afterward township, of 
Bloomington, has an equal interest in whatever we relate of historical events after the 
years 1830 and 1831. 



20 

JAMES ALLIN. 

While we cannot pretend, in a work of this kind, to give much personal history, 
we will mention that the Hon. James Allin was born January 13, 1788, in North Car- 
olina. After several emigrations, he found himself, in 1821, at Vandalia, then the 
county seat of Fayette County, which included a portion of the territory now in 
McLean County. Mr. Allin was one of those far-seeing, shrewd business men, who 
plainly saw that the rapid increase of population in the new State of Illinois would 
result in the formation of new counties and the location of new towns, and he early 
conceived the idea of being interested in some one or more of the future towns or cities 
of Central Illinois. 

In November, 1829, he came to Blooming Grove with a stock of goods which he 
commenced selling at the house of William Walker, near Mr. OrendorflF 's, in the south part 
of the Grove. During the following winter and spring, he was forming plans for future 
action. He learned before coming here from Vandalia that schemes were being matured 
for the formation of a new county from the eastern part of Tazewell, and on his arrival, 
he was of great assistance to the Orendorffs, Mr. W. H. Hodge, Mr. James Latta and 
others, who were in the movement. 

Mr. William Liudley, who is now living on the south side of Blooming Grove, states 
that early in 1830 Mr. Allin offered to buy his claim, which covered Mr. Lindley's pres- 
ent farm, stating that he wished to start a town. Mr. L. told him his land was too flat 
and wet for that purpose, but if he would come with him to the north side of the 
Grove, he would show him the best town site in the country. Mr. Allin came, and 
they found that Mr. William Evans, who had a " claim " on 160 acres, wished to sell, and 
a bargain was soon arranged. This Mr. Evans was not related to the other William Evans 
who built the first house in Bloomington. He soon moved away to Missouri, or some- 
where else, and disappeared from our history. Mr. Allin built a house, which is still 
standing as a part of the family residence of Dr. Stipp, where he opened a store in one 
end of the building in March, 1830 ; and during this year he went forward with his 
plans for the formation of the county and the location of the county seat. David Sim- 
mons came here in November, 1830, and at that time Mr, Allin told him there would 
be a town where we now see Bloomington. The Legislature had not passed the act for 
the incorporation of McLean County ; but Mr. Allin was confident of the outcome of 
the plans which were being matured. During the following session of the Legislature, 
Mr. Thomas OrendorfF and Rev. James Latta went to Vandalia with a petition for a 
new county. Before they started, Mr. Allin rendered them valuable assistance by sug- 
gestions as to how they should operate for the passage of the bill for the new county. 
He had lived several years at the capital, and understood how these matters were man- 
aged in legislative halls. When the act passed, it named three men to locate the county 
seat, who were the parties Mr, Allin desired ; and when they met here they approved 
of the site, and reported in favor of locating the county seat " at the north side of 
the Blooming Grove," 

Mr. James Allin donated twenty-two and one-half acres of land, to be divided into 
lots and sold for the benefit of McLean County. Of course he owned land adjoining 
that would be advanced in value, and he also intended to go on with his store and gen- 
eral business. In advancing his own interests he also benefited the public, and he has 
always justly taken rank as a benefactor of the community, having been very popular to 



21 

the day of his death. Mr. Allin was a far-seeing, shrewd business man, and was, in 
fact, a model speculator. He selected the prettiest location for a town that could possi- 
bly be found in the county. Bloomino; Grove and the prairie were adjoining each 
other ; his donated land, or the " original town," was just on the northern edge of the 
grove, bounded by North, East and West streets, with Front street on its southern bor- 
der. Three streets. Main, Center and Madison, ran through from north to south ; 
while Front, Washington and Jefferson crossed from east to west. Front street was 
near the edge of the timber, a few noble trees of which are standing to-day in the front 
yards of the residences owned by Dr. Stipp, Mrs. W. H. Hanna, Gen. Gridley and 
Absalom Funk. The Court House square is in the center of the " original town," as 
Mr. Allin's donation is called. It is a remarkable fact that in Dr. Stipp's front yard, 
the place where trade was first carried on in Bloomington, where our early pioneers 
must have often tied their horses to young trees which are now of moderate size, may 
still be seen the nearest approach to our virgin forest of any to be found near the heart 
of the city, and that here the natural sod or turf has never been disturbed by the march 
of improvement, as is proved by the annual blooming of the little " Spring Beauty," 
which is found nowhere else in the vicinity except in Gen. Gridley's grounds. ' 

With the noble trees of Blooming Grove in its rear, and the rolling prairie in the 
front on the north, the " original town " was a remarkable tract of land. From the 
square, the natural surface fell off in every direction, giving the best of drainage, while 
for quite a distance outside of the town the ground still continued to slope nicely, form- 
ing the best natural grades that could possibly be desired. 

Mr. Allin had noticed that the roads of that day, which were many of them on the 
lines of the old Indian trails — the most natural modes of communication to be found in 
a new country — all centered at Bloomington. He remarked that the route from Chicago 
to St. Louis, here crossed the road from Columbus, Ohio, to Iowa and the West. Prob- 
ably, he was thinking of the day when railroads would traverse these lines, and Bloom- 
ington be the railroad center it has since become through efforts inaugurated partly by 
Mr. Allin himself within two or three years of the founding of the new town. Inas- 
much as railroads were at that date pushing on through Pennsylvania and Maryland, 
and the people already began to talk of turning the great national road, then building 
through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, into a railroad to be built and owned by the Govern- 
ment, it is highly probable, indeed almost certain, that Mr. Allin had formed plans for 
railroad lines that should have their crossings, if not their termini, here. We find that 
during the Internal Improvement craze in 1836, only five years after the location of 
Bloomington, railroads were projected from Chicago to Alton, from Cairo to Galena, 
which have since been constructed and passed through here ; while there was still another 
projected road to run from Bloomington to Pekin ; and, as Mr. Allin was one of the 
best thinkers of this part of the country, he may have thought of these lines when he 
first conceived of the location of the county seat at the north side of Blooming Grove. 

In all the vicissitudes through which the new town passed, Mr. Allin never lost 
his faith in Bloomington. He seemed aware of the possibilities of the town, and was 
buoyed by an undoubting faith in its future destiny. He was assisted by such men as 
Messrs. Gridley, Fell and Davis, men of deep, broad views, who are entitled to rank 
with the foremost thinkers of the West — who are referred to as men of the greatest 
foresight ; but of these men, he was, at least, the peer, their equal in enterprise and 



22 

activity, and their superior in faith and hope. In the mind of Mr. James Allin, 
Bloomington was to grow into one of the prettiest and most thriving cities of the State ; 
and no temporary discouragement could shake his beUef in its glorious future. 

To show that Mr. Allin's early efforts have been appreciated by those who have 
reaped some of the rewards of his labors, we will refer to June 30, 1854, at the open- 
ing of the Pike House. This hotel was then thought to be a most magnificent struct- 
ure, and which, built of wood, on the exact site of the present Phoenix Hotel, costing 
$25,000, was really a creditable institution. There was a gathering of our leading cit- 
izens on this occasion, when Mr. James Allin gave this toast : " My favorite daughter 
— Bloomington — a puny child and the object of intense parental solicitude, now spring- 
ing up into a blooming and vigorous womanhood ; the idol of her father and the belle 
of the commonwealth." 

In response to this, Mr. William Wallace gave, " The venerable founder of Bloom- 
ington — James Allin — a man never appalled by difiiculty, and who never lost sight of 
the splendid future of our flourishing city in the dark hour of her trial." We are 
thus enabled to perceive that Mr. Allin was appreciated fully by those who lived and 
labored with him in the great work of founding and building the city. 

He left no scheme untried that promised to benefit Bloomington, and in most of 
his projects he received the active and efficient aid of A. Gridley, Jesse W. Fell, J. 
E. McClun, M. L. Covell, David Davis, and others, who soon became citizens of 
Bloomington. There was built up a public spirit — a sort of buoyant hopefulness and 
cheerfulness — that is characteristic of Bloomington, and a willingness to work for one 
common object, that has been the means of securing our city many very important 
advantages, among which may be mentioned the railroad-shops, five railroads, and the 
Normal and Soldiers' Home in our sister-town of Normal, all of which were the direct 
outgrowth of the far-sighted, harmonious working of our leading prominent citizens of 
the past and present. Long may their successors follow in the footsteps of their illus- 
trious predecessors, ever showing a vigorous harmony in laboring for the public good. 
Mr. Allin's efforts ceased not until late in life when he gently passed over the dark river 
May 5, 1869. He attended an Old Settlers' meeting in 1866, at which time the Bloom- 
ington Pantagraph, then edited by the author of this sketch, spoke of him as follows : 

'' Mr. Allin's health is poor, and he has never recovered from a fall on the ice 
which severely injured him about four years ago. He walks on crutches, and was 
assisted up-stairs by two men. He was complimented by the speakers as the man 
whose superior foresight pointed out Bloomington as the site of a future city when all 
around was an uncultivated wilderness. According to what Gov. Moore and Mr. Grid- 
ley said, Mr. Allin in his younger days was very much such a man as we occasionally 
hear of now in frontier places. He used every honorable endeavor to induce emigrants 
to locate in this county. If they wished to settle in the new town, Mr. Allen would 
sell them lots at a low price if they had money, and would sell them at a lower figure 
if they had a little money, or would give lots outright if they had no money, always 
stipulating that improvements should be made. 

"It was such unremitting care and exertions, which, in the course of a few years 
gave this settlement a start that made it out of the question for any neighboring town 
to compete with it, and made it eventually a point to be aimed at by railroads which 
have now made Bloomington one of the thriftiest and best business places in the State. 



23 

" It must have been a proud day to Mr. Allin to meet so many old friends and 
neighbors, not one of whom bears the slightest grudge against him, and to listen to such 
eloquent and appreciative tributes to his life-long public spirit. With all his opportuni- 
ties for building up a large fortune, Mr. AUin's valuable lands slipped from his hold in 
one way and another, to parties who could not or would not pay much for their lots, 
until, when property came to be really valuable, he had little left to sell. He, however) 
acquired a comfortable competency, so that his old age is pleasantly passing in the midst 
of a community he took such pride in drawing together. A more grasping man would 
have so hesitated to sell property that settlers would have been driven away ; and a less 
honorable man, if he had made more money, would have had fewer friends in his old 
age. Bloomington owes a debt to Mr. Allin which it can never repay." 

WARS AND RUMORS OP WARS. 

The pioneers of Blooming Grove could muster about fifteen able-bodied men as 
early as 1826, and formed the nucleus of a military company, ever ready for service 
against the Indians, and for mutual protection if needed. The Indians were friendly, 
but scarcely trusted, hence wisdom and prudence required constant watchfulness. The 
danger arose from the fact that the Winnebago Indians, in the northern part of Illinois, 
were treacherous and hostile, and might at any time embroil the friendly Kickapoos and 
Delawares of Central Illinois. In 1827 occurred what is called the Winnebago war, 
when the company at Blooming Grove, under Capt. J. H. S. Rhodes, came out. with 
other troops that responded to the call of Gov. Reynolds, and, to the number of fifteen, 
went as far as Peoria ; but the difficulty was adjusted without their aid. The Black Hawk 
war and its many incidents will be treated more at length in other portions of this 
work. 

During the years 1844, 1845 and 1846, the people of Illinois were greatly 
enraged by the actions of the Mormons, who, to the number of 15,000, occupied 
Nauvoo, making that the largest city in the State, controlled it by their elders, 
and, for quite a period, kept the whole of Hancock County under the power of their 
own government. The Governor twice called out troops to quell the disturbances, and, 
at one time, the Mormons displayed such powers of resistance that the residents of 
Bloomington began to make plans for volunteering to assist the State ; but, fortunately, 
there was no call for many troops from this side of the Illinois River. 

But when President Polk, in May, 1846, issued a proclamation calling for volun- 
teers for the Mexican war, which was then raging, fixing the quota of Illinois at four 
regiments, the patriotism and warlike spirit of Bloomington were at once aroused. Vol- 
unteers flocked here from all quarters, and, with those who enlisted from this village, took 
a prominent part in the events of the Mexican war. Their exploits will be found given 
more at length in the history of McLean County, where Bloomington's share will 
be included in the county's record. The war for the Union will be mentioned but 
briefly in this work, it being more recent thaji the events this book was intended to 
describe. 

THE FRONTIER SERVICE. 

We have stated that the early settlers of Blooming Grove found Kickapoo Indians 
here, who, under their chief, Ma-shee-na, were always friendly to the whites. Though 
at first they used some threatening language, they never committed any disturbance. 



24 

As late as 1831, these Indians had mostly left, though they appeared occasionally, 
traversing, the country in all directions. One family seems to have been living in 
Bloomington after the location of the county seat. 

McLean was a frontier county up to 1840, as the settlement of the State was pro- 
gressing from the south toward the north, where the Winnebago Indians and others 
were less friendly than those in this region. The streams flowing to the Illinois in what 
is now Woodford and Marshall County, had a few settlers, while portions of Livingston, 
included in McLean till 1837, were beginning to have a few pioneers along the groves 
and bodies of timber skirting the Vermilion River, Rook's Creek and other streams. 
Not a single settler was ever killed by Indians in McLean County, so far as we have 
been able to learn, a fact that is quite remarkable when we consider the ordinary fatality 
of the frontier settlements through the United States. 

But while our settlers were thus fortunate, they did not pass unheeded the calls 
from others less happily situated. When the Black Hawk war broke out in 1832, 
Bloomington and the surrounding country sent a whole company of volunteers, under 
command of Capt. Merritt L. Covell. A. Gridley was First Lieutenant, M. Baldwin, 
Second Ijieutenant, and there were in all fifty-six men. Each man furnished his own 
horse, gun, clothing and accouterments. These troops took part in what was known as 
Stillman's defeat, above Dixon, in what is at present Ogle County. But one man was 
killed from this company — Joseph Draper. A full report of all that happened on this 
expedition is published elsewhere in this work, and we will be content with a statement 
of facts in relation to the Indian troubles which have not been before presented to the 
public, but which have been gathered recently from survivors, and are here given for 
the first time. 

When the troops from Tazewell and McLean Counties had returned to Ottawa and 
were there building a fort for the protection of the settlers, supplies arrived from Pekin 
and points on the Illinois River. Word was received that the people at Bloomington 
were talking of building a fort, and that there was general alarm along the Mackinaw 
and through the whole region from which the troops had enlisted. It was thought that 
the Kickapoos might have been tampered with by emissaries from Black Hawk, whose 
great success on the Rock River had, of course, emboldened him greatly. And no 
wonder that our volunteers were excited. They had left home, a short time before, 
fully persuaded that their own wives and little ones were sate ; and now to learn that 
there was danger in their rear, they were tremendously agitated. All the best horses 
and guns of the settlements, with the most resolute warriors, were thus absent from the 
point of danger, and the case looked desperate. Rumor, perhaps, slightly exaggei'ated 
the trouble ; but, even at this time, with a full knowledge of the actual risk from the 
treacherous Indian nature, it looks as if these men had the best of reasons for their 
actions. Thirteen of them, headed by David Simmons, who is now living in Blooming- 
ton, determined to return home and guard the settlers, although their time of enlist- 
ment had not expired, and they ran the risk of being called deserters. Besides Mr. 
Simmons, we have the names of Bailey Coft'ee, Clem. Oatman, Isaac Murphy and James 
K. Orendorfi". On the second day after their start from Ottawa, they arrived at Bloom- 
ington, where they were met by the whole population and received with a perfect ovation 
of gratitude and thankfulness. Those men afterward all received honorable discharges, 
their action having been considered right and proper, even if a little unmilitary. In a 



25 

few days, the balance of the company returned from Ottawa, and, in the mean time, 
authority had been given for raising a company of rangers for service on the frontiers of 
McLean County for sixty days. A fort was built near the east end of Mackinaw Timber, 
at Mr. Henline's, where the settlers living in what is now Lawndale, Lexington and 
Money Creek were in the habit of assembling for safety. The company of rangers made 
this fort their headquarters, and patrolled the region north, [ndian Grove, Rook's Creek, 
Vermilion Timber, and all places where the inhabitants were unprotected. Capt. John 
H. S. Rhodes was the commander, though Capt. Covell is given by some authorities as 
the chief officer. Volunteers also turned out who were not attached to the company, 
and Capt. Covell, fresh from Indian warfare, may have taken his turn at this service 
without having been mustered. A short time after this, a whole battalion was made up 
in this region for military drill, and of this regiment Capt. Covell was made Colonel, 
and he was after that made a General of militia. Owen Cheney was a Major in this 
regiment, and A. Gridley, Adjutant. Gridley was, at a later day, chosen Brigadier 
General of militia, and his title has properly followed him to this day. 

The company of rangers did good service in guarding: the frontier from Ottawa to 
the Mackinaw, though even at the time, opinions of the best informed were divided as 
to the real danger to be apprehended from the Indians. Probably, in this case, the thorough 
preparations made by our energetic frontier soldiers prevented a general massacre, and 
thus advanced the public interests and kept the settlements from suffering and distress. 
Even as it was, quite a large number abandoned their homes, preferring to be on the 
safe side of a doubtful question, some of whom never returned to the county. There 
were about fifty men in this company, most of whom were raised in Bloomington, Stout's 
Grove, and Old Town Timber. 

By the latter end of summer, all danger of Indian troubles had vanished, as Black 
Hawk was captured, his bands broken up, and peace restored to our frontier — never to 
be disturbed by hostile Indians, though of wars and rumors of wars our pen must again 
make mention. 

BLOOMINGTON IN 1831. 

Bloomington has the name of being the best built city in Illinois, and it boasts a 
society as cultivated, as agreeable and as brilliant as any in the West. In the matter of 
buildings — business blocks, especially — it is undeniably the superior of anything in the 
State outside of Chicago ; but as to its social charms the question may not be so suscep- 
tible of demonstration. We who live here can at least make our claims, leaving others 
to settle their accuracy. We are content to reside in Bloomington, resting well satisfied 
with our surroundings, which, we may remark, are such as foster the social ideas we have 
mentioned. We can see that there are sound philosophical reasons for our boasts in the 
matter of good society. We know that it is reasonable to indulge these feelings, when 
we consider that Bloomington, for fifty years has absorbed good society from the East? 
the North and the South. We can see here representatives of the best society of at 
least twenty different States — the cultivated sons and daughters of a dozen European 
nations. These have made their homes here, bringing with them manners and cus- 
toms as various as their differing nationalities. How natural that there should grow 
up a social system culled from the best of the different standards ? How easy to 
form thus a model for future generations ? Here we find the courtly Southerner — the 
careful Easterner, and the thrifty New Yorker, meeting in one social family, and the 



26 

result would naturally be what we claim — a new society mor? pleasant than either, with 
the best social ethics of all, mingled in one common fountain from which flow the ele- 
ments of the best society in the land. Fifty years of this mingling process may be too 
short to perfectly illustrate its capabilities ; but in the course of time there can be no 
doubt Bloomington will be able to exhibit its best eflects. Our " best society " is even 
now undergoing the transformation which is to make it in the future one of the most 
enjoyable communities in the land. Our space is altogether too limited to illustrate 
further what we have hinted at; but the careful reader will perceive before we are through 
that we indicate a great variety of sources from which may proceed this cosmopolitan 
good society to which we have made reference. 

On the 4th day of July of 1831, there was at Bloomington an auction sale of the 
town lots which had been donated to the county, when William Orendorff acted as auc- 
tioneer. This sale was quite satisfactory, and from its proceeds the first county build- 
ings were erected. We will assume that Bloomington's baptism occurred at that date. 
On the 4th day of July, 1881, we shall call Bloomington just fifty years old, and we 
hereby make a motion in favor of holding a grand celebrationT^on that fiftieth anniver- 
sary. How the assembled multitude, July 4, 1831, would have stared could they have 
seen at that early day, what we gaze at daily unmoved — the elegant Court House that 
DOW graces the public square ? Suppose Mr. AUin had been able on that occasion to 
visit our Court House dome and view its present surroundings, what a sight would meet 
his wondering eyes ? Or, suppose one of us could then have stood where we should 
obtain a full view of the sights that were visible, what surprise and delight we should 
manifest? We should have seen, as before stated, the beautiful town site, smooth and 
free from buildings, as staked ofl" by Dr. Baker, into lots, blocks and streets, covered 
with waving grass and dotted with beautiful prairie flowers of many hues, all in the full 
beauty of the early summer. To the south, in front, would be the bright, green wall of 
tall waving trees — Blooming Grove — the finest piece of timber in Central Illinois, 
slightly marred and cut by the axes of the first settlers — Evans, AUin, Dimmitt, Tolli- 
ver and Maxwell — whose cabins could some of them be seen from the town site ; while 
Mr. Allin's store and residence combined, which still stands as a part of the dwelling of 
Dr. Stipp, would be the most prominent object in the foreground. We should hear the 
bystanders all talking of the new county of McLean — of its new county seat — and 
wondering what the future might have in store for their adopted homes — or, possibly 
remarking upon the influx of emigrants that were stopping in their rich and promising 
district. We learn that emigration was pouring into McLean with the most wonderful 
rapidity, and that this stream increased until the year 183fl. From all we can now 
ascertain, it appears that in 1831 the population of McLean must have been nearly two 
thousand. At the election the previous year, 385 votes were polled in its territory, and 
in 1835, the county contained 5,000 people. A short time after the sale of lots in 
1831, there were about one dozen families residing within the present city limits of 
Bloomington, which, added to those we have before mentioned as being established in 
the township of Bloomington — but living in Blooming Grrove — made a population of 
perhaps three hundred persons. 

Those who were living in the present city limits of Bloomington during the year 
1831 are the following: Rev. James Latta, Dr. David Wheeler, Dr. Isaac Baker, 
William Evans, Henry Miller, David Trimmer, Solomon Dodge, James Allin, John 



27 

Kimler, Mr. G-reenman, James Tolliver, John Maxwell, and in the fall, Benjamin Haines. 
These were all heads of families, and there may have been a very few more at Little 
(now Major's) Gi-rove. We should also include the families of A. Deatherage and Robert 
Guthrie, living there. In addition, of single men, there were William McKisson, Will- 
iam Dimmitt, William Evans, Jr., Samuel, William and John Durley, A. C. Wash- 
bur;.ne, A. Gridley and Merritt L. Covel. This indicates a population of about eighty 
within the present city limits during the first year of the existence of the new town, 
and we find it well started on its forward career. 

From the first, as will be seen by what is now well known of the character of the 
early pioneers, Bloomington was fortunate enough to possess a good class of residents. 
There were very few of the temporary " floating," " moving," irresponsible emigrants 
so often found in new towns. Nearly every one who arrived came to stay, a statement 
that speaks well for the young village. Bloomington has continued an attractive place 
for strangers down to the present time, and is well spoken of all over the State. No 
doubt the city owes much of its past and present prosperity to the fact of always having 
possessed a good reputation, an illustration showing that a good name is better than 
riches. In the year 1831, very little could be said of the business of Bloomington. 
There was a beginning here, little more. The new county of McLean had been organ- 
ized, its machinery set in motion ; the town of Bloomington had been platted, lots sold, 
a few houses built, and several families established ; but there was little that could be 
called a town. The future contained great possibilities for the new place, even if the 
present witnessed the realization of but very little. 

Of the early settlers, we will mention a few, though we regret that our space will 
not permit notice of others equally worthy. Mr. William Evans came to this county 
in 1825, and settled southeast of Bloomington. The great hurricane of June 27, 1827, 
broke down his timber and appeared to have ruined his corn crop. Mr. William Oren- 
dorff gave him five acres of young corn, which, with the unexpected good yield of his 
own, made Mr. Evans a fair crop, and enabled him to harvest 100 bushels of corn, 
this being what he had agreed to give Cheney Thomas for his " claim " to a tract of 
land where the city of Bloomington is now built. In 1828, Mr. Evans built his log 
cabin, on a piece of ground between Grove and Olive streets, near the present residence 
of J. S. Roush. He afterward built a good house at the same location, and here he 
spent his days in peace and happiness, made wealthy by the advance in the value of his 
farm. He died in 1868, at the age of ninety-two years. Mr. Evans was a man of 
good habits, one of the best men of the good old times. He was the first settler in the 
territory now known as the city of Bloomington. 

Mr. William Dimmitt owned a tract adjoining Mr. Evans, and was one of the 
pioneers of Bloomington. Though several houses were built before his improvements 
were made, he became one of the best known of our old residents, his career covering 
fifty-two years at one place. His death is very recent, and we will quote from the 
Pd,ntagraph of January 21, 1879, an article in regard to this pioneer: 

" Mr. William Dimmitt, one of the pioneers of Blooming Grove, settled at the north 
edge of the grove in 1827, on the very land where he died, February 19, 1879, having 
made his home here four years before the town of Bloomington was established. He 
was born in Virginia, and moved, when a boy, to Alleghany Co., Maryland, in 1797. 
His father was Enorlish, his mother American born. In 1825, Mr. Dimmitt removed 



28 

to Illinois; remained the first summer at Danville, and came to McLean County in 
1826. He made a claim at the west end of Old Town Timber, in 1826 ; but when 
the hurricane of June 27, 1827, leveled the best part of his trees to the ground, he 
became discouraged, abandoned the place, and made arrangements to move to another 
location. Mr. William Evans had purchased (of Cheney Thomas, according to some 
accounts ) a claim where the city of Bloomington stands, including, in part, what is npw 
the territory running from the cemetery north as far as Dr. Wakefield's. Mr. Dimmitt 
bought a claim in 1828, next adjoining this on the east, being, in part, land lying 
between the Illinois Central Railroad and Mr. Evans'. He became a farmer, though, 
as he was not married until 1833, he had no house on his land for some years. Dur- 
ing the first few years he worked, as did the pioneers, at whatever was to be done, but 
could make little headway until the year 1829, when he went to the lead-mines at Elizabeth, 
Jo Daviess Co., 111., where he was remarkably fortunate, and returned with $600 — a 
large sum of money for those times. The lead-mines, then, were to an early settler 
what California has been in later days. It was where Isaac Funk sold the cattle of this 
region, and where he and others took droves of hogs for the miners. With this sum of 
money Mr. Dimmitt was able to pay for his farm — 130 acres — and he was at once in 
good circumstances. His land became quite valuable, as soon as the county seat was 
located at Bloomington, a few months after the Deep Snow of 1831, but he never was in 
any hurry to accept of the ofiiers of that early time. In 1848, he made an addition to 
the city, followed by others, until, in all, he has made six additions. He always kept 
track of the advance in the value of real estate, rarely selling before it was prudent or 
wise, and has been considered one of our wealthy citizens. His homestead has never 
been sold or transferred since it was patented to Mr. Dimmitt by the United States Gov- 
ernment, and it is the only tract in Bloomington of which this can be said. Mr. Dim- 
mitt went with the Bloomington volunteers to the Black Hawk war in 1832, and on 
the expiration of the thirty-days service, the last of which was performed at Ottawa, 
in building a log fort for the protection of the settlers, he came home to Bloomington. 
He enlisted in the company raised immediately after his return for frontier service in 
McLean County, served the sixty days of its enlistment, going to Vermilion River, in 
what is now Livingston County, to Rook's Creek and Indian Grove, it being then all a 
part of McLean, and spent a good deal of time near the east end of Mackinaw timber, 
where, at Mr. Henhne's, there was a rough fort for the safety of the pioneers in that 
neighborhood. 

" Bloomington's oldest pioneer has thus passed away, and his mantle has fallen upon 
the one that next arrived in our corporation, though we ai'e just now unable to state who it 
may be. Mr. Dimmitt has enjoyed that distinction since the death of Mr. Evans, sev- 
eral years ago. He was always a good citizen, quiet in his manner, never ostentatious, 
and has acted well his part in life. 

" He married Mary Ervine forty-six years ago; and together with his wife, saw as 
much of real pioneer life as any of our early settlers. During the whole of this long 
and eventful life, death has not once entered his family, as all the children are now living 
still in this or neighboring States. He leaves a widow and a large circle of children, 
grandchildren, connections and friends to mourn his loss."' 

W. H. Hodge was the first school-teacher in the village, living at the time two 
miles south, on his farm. The schoolhouse stood near the crossing of Main and Olive 



29 

streets. Mr. Hodge was an active citizen, having held several of the most important 
offices in this and Tazewell County at different times. Amasa C. Washburne arrived 
in 1831, and opened a school here in December of that year, in a building near the 
corner of Main and Olive streets. Mr. W. was one of the most consistent and active 
Christians of the place ; a Presbyterian ; was the first Secretary of the McLean County 
Bible Society, in 1834, and always an earnest worker in the cause of his Master. He 
was one of eight members who, in 1832, organized the first Presbyterian Church. The 
first Methodist sermon preached in Bloomington is often stated to have been at the 
house of John Canady, October 9, 1831 ; but as this house was outside of the village, it 
will be necessary to state it was in Blooming Grove, if we follow out the division of 
territory we have hitherto given. We have seen that the first Methodist sermon in 
Blooming Grove was delivered by Rev. James Stringfield, in 1823. Probably scores 
of sermons were preached in the Grove by Methodist circuit-riders, between 1823 and 
1831. There may have been a church organized, though we can find no record of one 
till 1832. In 1838, Blooming Grove and Bloomington were united in one circuit, from 
which the inference is plain that a church organization existed previously at each place. 
It appears that between the time of the location of the county seat, in the early 
part of the year 1831, and the time of the sale, July 4, there was a gradual gathering- 
together of people who intended to cast their lot in the new town, and after that 
event, before the end of the year, there were quite a number of new-comers. There 
was one blacksmith here the first year, David Trimmer, and one wheelwright, Henry 
Miller, who was a son-in-law of William Evans. Mr. Miller also made and repaired 
spinning-wheels ; he had the first turning-lathe, though this last was as late as 1835. 
The first store has already been mentioned as having been James Allin's, in what is 
now Dr. Stipp's residence. Here, at the place designated in the act organizing McLean 
County, in one end of the house, the first Circuit Court was held by Judge S. D. Lock- 
wood. Mr. Allin had, shortly after, a store on the northeast corner of Main and Front 
streets. Gen. Gridley's stoi'e was on the opposite corner, where is now the McLean 
County Bank. There was soon a business house on each of the other corners, and 
hence this locality became the center of trade and influence. It was many years before 
any other part of the city was of any importance in a commercial point of view, and 
this will be known as the historic center of Bloomington. It is also the geographical 
center, as the first charter specifies that Bloomington shall extend three-quarters of a. 
mile north, south, east and west of the northwest corner of Front and Main streets. 
The city limits have been extended several times since ; but these extensions have been 
made irregularly, or, rather, unequally on the different sides, so that this corner is not, 
strictly, the geographical center of the Bloomington of to-day. On the northeast corner 
of Front and Main was built the first brick store in this city. It was erected in 1839. 
by James Miller, and is still a very fair structure. 

Dr. Baker and Dr. Wheeler are mentioned as physicians in 1831. They were 
assisted in this line of business, in 1832, by Dr. John Anderson, and soon after. Dr. 
Haines was added to the number. 

Rev. James Latta, who had lived at the Groye for several years, became a resident 
of Bloomington during the year 1 831. He commenced, in the fall of this year, to fence and 
improve prairie, over half a mile from the edge of the Grove, which was then thought a reck- 
less distance from the base of supplies. This is now known as the Durley Addition. 



30 

October 8, 1831, Ashael Gridley, then a young man twenty-one years old, arrived in 
Bloomington and commenced the careerof activity which has rendered his name a household 
word all over Central Illinois. He commenced improvements in the fall of this year, at the 
corner of Main and Front streets, where his fine bank building now stands. The lots 
at the corners of these streets were the choice ones of the new town. Mr. Gridley paid 
$51 for his lot, which had been bid oiF by some one at the July sale for $60. His home 
at this time (he being unmarried) was with the family of James Allin. Here, we 
may assume, commenced an active acquaintance and friendship between the two active 
men, who, for the next thirty years or more, took such a prominent part in the fortunes 
of this thriving young town, as well as in those of the whole county. From the very first 
year of its existence, he has been one of the foremost in all enterprises that promised 
the good of Bloomington. Being of an active, sanguine temperament, quick to per- 
ceive, he has generally been a leader in all undertakings — giving liberally of his means, 
arguing with the doubtful, pushing forward the slow and timid, carrying every one 
onward with his magnetic enthusiasm until success should crown the eflfort. Blooming- 
ton owes this gentleman a debt of gratitude that should be remembered to its latest 
generations. Our history mentions his labors in several of the city's undertakings, but 
there have been hundreds of instances illustrating what we have mentioned, that live 
only in the recollections of his associates, of which we have simply gathered a very few 
of the most prominent. 

Gen. Gridley has been fortunate in his business ventures and now possesses a hand- 
some estate. Some of it is on Front street, the scene of his early labors, quite a portion in 
large farms in Central Illinois, and more of it is in various moneyed investments. He is 
now the oldest pioneer who has lived consecutively in the city of Bloomington since the 
year of its first settlement. He was in mercantile business here until after 1840, when 
he studied law and at once entered upon a large practice. In the good times following 
the building of the Illinois Central, he dealt largely in real estate ; while at about the 
same time, in 1853, he started the McLean County Bank, of which he was President 
and afterward sole owner for years, though he has now taken his son Edward into the 
firm. Banking has been his leading business for the last twenty-six years, though his 
activity has been so great that he has been interested in an almost infinite number of 
other enterprises. He is now in his seventieth year, and is in good health. He is the 
oldest resident of the city, having lived here continuously for forty-eight years. 

There were several residents of the town, in the year 1831, who did not remain 
long, whose names have not been preserved. Drs. Baker and Wheeler, and Robert 
Guthrie, will be mentioned elsewhere, as will Merritt L. Covell, at this time a young 
man who soon entered upon an active career. William, Samuel and John Durley 
arrived during the year 1831 or 1832, and became active citizens of the town, and their 
family name is preserved in the fine public hall built a few years ago by Judge Davis, 
and also in the name of the addition known as "The Durley." The Durley farm 
was for years thought to be just a little too far north and east to ever become a part of 
the city. John Maxwell and James Tolliver lived in the southwest part of the city, 
where their land is in part now known as the Tolliver Addition to the city of Blooming- 
ton. John Greenman lived in the part of the city now covered in part by the Masons Addi- 
tion ; and John Kimler's farm was southeast, and was in part the present Judge McClun 
form, just within the city limits. 



31 

It seems that Bloomington was officially known by that name as early as in May^ 
1831, before the sale of lots. We have already shown that the town was named in the 
act incorporating McLean County, about six months before the sale of lots, and a 
month or more before the Commissioners located the county seat " at the north edge 
of the Blooming Grove." Soon after the location was made, steps were taken to have 
the name of the post office changed from Blooming Grrove to Bloomington, which 
occurred in May, 1831, when James Allin was appointed Postmaster, and the office 
was opened in his store. The existence of the town properly dates from the location of 
the county seat, though it was named on paper some time previously. Its first exist- 
ence having been on paper only, we have thought best, in this history, to assume that 
the town (now city) of Bloomington entered fairly upon its career July 4, 1831, at 
which time the public sale of lots occurred, after which Bloomington had not only a 
name, but. also a definite location. 

James Allin made the first addition to Bloomington in August, 1831. It was by 
the sale of lots in this addition that Mr. Allin realized some return for the donation of 
twenty-two and one-hall acres which he made to the county. This addition consists in 
part of the property lying south of Fourth street. 

By the end of the year 1831, public attention had become attracted to the new 
town, which had no competitor nearer than the old town of Mackinaw, and it became 
evident that here was to grow up a village of some importance, though at this early 
day no one knew whether the boundaries of the new county of McLean were to remain- 
as first established, or what was to be the future of the settlement. From the very 
first, however, Mr. James Allin, assisted by such men as the Orendorffs, A. Grridley, 
James Latta, W. H. Hodge, John Benson, and many others, kept vigilant watch over 
the young county, and in the end proved themselves able to preserve its boundaries in 
such shape that Bloomington continued its chief central town, until, in the course of 
a few years, it was so well established as to fear nothing. 

The period from 1831 to 1836 was one of great prosperity for Central Illinois, 
Settlers were pouring in rapidly from the Eastern and Southern States. There was a 
large emigration from Kentucky and Tennessee, made up mostly of those who desired to 
rear their families away from the blighting and deadening influences of slavery. Illinois 
was learning that the result of the contest on the question of slavery a few years before 
was more favorable than the most enthusiastic advocates of freedom had predicted. 
Ohio and Indiana, however, furnished the most liberal share of the new-comers to Bloom- 
ington and 3IcLean County, though there were a few genuine Yankees, and quite a num- 
ber of those known as " York State Yankees." The sudden influx of settlers created a 
home demand for the products of the country and stimulated the trade of our merchants, 
so that up to 1836, the time of the great financial crash, the times continued to grow bet- 
ter and better, until the mania for land speculation became prevalent, followed by the 
general smash and crash of 1837, of which the full efi'ect for evil was not realized for 
several years. It would appear that the times then grew worse for five or six years, 
until, in 1842, there was terrible distress. We who have passed through the flush times 
from 1863 to 1873, and who have seen, since the latter date, five years of constantly 
accelerating financial stringency, can form some idea of the condition of afiairs here 
thirty to forty years ago. We must bear in mind that we now have railroads and a 
home market, while in those days there were no markets nearer than Chicago and St.. 



32 

Louis ; and when we add to this the fact of our possession of a currency that is abso- 
lutely perfect, and compare it with no currency at all, we shall begin to realize the con- 
dition of our early settlers. The financial question is treated to some extent elsewhere 
in this book, and we shall, therefore, omit further mention of it in this connection. 

From 1831 to 1836, the growth of Bloomington was rapid, yet at the latter date 
there were only 450 inhabitants, showing it was still quite a small village. We learn 
that as late as 1840 there were not over six or eight stores, though improvements were 
going on slowly all the time. We must remember that down to this date there were 
few who had attempted to settle on the prairie ; the groves were still the only desirable 
locations. Farming as we have since seen it was hardly thought of, and, as a matter of 
course, there was less business in proportion for merchants than we see at the present 
time. The habits of the people were simple. The increase in wealth had not yet 
brought about general extravagance, and the careful habits of the early settlers continued 
with gradual change down to the discovery of gold in California. From 1849 to 1855, 
there was a most wonderful development of the county, and consequent growth of the 
town ; but all this was unfelt at the time we are studying, and we can still consider it 
a portion of the good old times of McLean County. 

It has been a matter of surprise that the people of the present day take so little inter- 
est in the improvements that have been made in farming implements and farming pro- 
cesses. It was not till after 1842 that plows had been made that would do good work 
on the black, fine, prairie soils of this country. Plows were made of cast-iron before 
1835 ; but such could only be used on gravelly or sandy soils. They would not " scour " 
or keep free from clogging when tried here ; and, for many years, farmers and manu- 
facturers were studying how to make a plow that would " scour " in prairie soil. Vari- 
ous styles of wooden plows, also iron and wood combined, were tried and abandoned, 
until in the end the cast-steel plow of the present day was brought partly to perfection, 
and added vastly to the capabilities of our agriculturists. Wheat was laboriously reaped 
by hand with a sickle, or cut with a cradle ; threshed by hand or horse power ; win- 
nowed by hand ; and, when ready for market, could not be sold except for home con- 
sumption. The seed-drill, the harvester, the mowing-machine, the steam-thresher, were 
things of the future. Corn was planted by hand and cultivated by " single shovel " 
horse-plows as rude as the plows that prepared the grounds for planting. Thus, plant- 
ing corn by hand, tilling it slowly and laboriously, our great staple was cultivated with 
difficulty ; and, when raised, it could only be marketed in the shape of beef or pork ; 
hogs and cattle were driven to Cincinnati, Chicago, Galena or St. Louis, and the long- 
journey rendered it advisable to fatten stock with some qualifications for speed, or, rather, 
ability to travel with little loss of flesh. The fine breeds of hogs and cattle for which 
McLean County is now famed, would then have been worthless for driving. This 
region was pre-eminently a stock country. The large herds of swine were nearly wild, 
running at large in the groves, fattening partially on nuts and acorns, finished oiF late 
in the fall with as little corn as might answer the purpose ; not made too fat, for fear of 
injury in driving to market. Immense herds of cattle roamed at will over the prairies, 
often obtaining their entire living during the winter by browsing on what they could 
find in the woods or " timber " as it must be called in this region. This prairie was 
owned by the Grovernment until after the mania for land speculation from 1834 to 
1836, when much of that near the timber was purchased ; but owners of cattle 



33 

seldom troubled themselves to buy more than enough for their cultivation on a small 
scale. 

It will readily be seen that under this state of affairs, farmers realized but little for 
their labor, which they expended upon the cultivated portion of their lands, and that 
the profit was chiefly in stock-raising, which, by the way, was not very profitable, as 
prices of pork and beef were very low. After these articles had been sent to market 
under all the diflBculties described, there was generally a small return for the producer. 
Hence it will be realized that merchants and mechanics, living in the towns and villages, 
could have received but a small remuneration from an agricultural people so situated, and 
no great growth could have been looke i for in a town which, like Bloomington, was not 
a primary market for agricultural products. Bloomington was a pleasant residence, was 
the capital of a fine county, and possessed a good trade with the surrounding country, 
and was growing with its growth, but it only contained a population of 1,611 as late as 
1851, and not till the advent of railroads did the place put on the airs of an important 
city. 

In common with other historians, we find it difficult to chronicle events in their 
exact order, and must follow the thread wherever it leads — leaving the reader to do a 
portion of the weaving. We have brought our narrative down to about the year 1837, 
and, perhaps, a reference to the items contained in a copy of the Bloomington Observer, 
dated November 17, 1838, Vol. 2, No. 35 — which is before us — may be of interest, as 
being from the oldest copy of the journal that can be obtained. 

Its editor was Jesse W. Fell, and the office was on the corner of Madison and Grove 
streets. Its advertisements, as a rule, were put up neatly, and denote typographical 
ability. Nothing larger than two-line black-faced primer is to be found. 

The law firm of Davis & Colton was composed of David Davis and Wells Colton. 
They offered " to attend to all professional business confided to their care in the counties 
of Peoria. McLean, Macon, Tazewell, Putnam and Livingston " They would have their 
hands full to-day over so much territory, surely. 

Dr. John F. Henry " has returned home " (where from is not stated), " and offers 
his professional services to his friends." 

Covel & Weed wanted 10,000 pounds of dried hides at liberal prices. 
The annual commencement of "Illinois Seminary" was held on September 19. 
" Illinois Seminary " still stands, but is deserted and sorry-looking, near the C. & A. 
shops. 

The estate of John Kiraler, deceased, was in the hands of Coffey & Cox, admin- 
istrators, for sale or settlement. 

Mormons, in covered wagons, with property worth $3,000, were en route for Mis- 
souri. 

The death of Thomas H. Haines, M. D., occurred " on the 3rd instant, in the 
37th year of his age, and was extensively felt and most deeply deplored in the com- 
munity." 

William P. Brown was Postmaster. Mail matter arrived and departed by stage 
every other day in the week. 

W. H. McFall gave notice that the next Legislature would be petitioned to form 
a new county by slicing off a portion of McLean, Macon and Champaign Counties. 
We presume the new county thus formed was DeWitt. 



34 

Seth Baker, President, published a village ordinance notifying that " each able- 
bodied white male resident in the incorporated town of Bloomington, between the ages 
of twenty-one and fifty years, shall be required to do and perform four days labor in the 
year 1838." 

The Central Railroad was building south, and had reached Peru. It was many 
years before it was able to cross the Illinois River. 

Benjamin Walker offered $100 reward for two dark brown horses that had been 
stolen from the stable of James AUin, Esq., in Bloomington. 

The stage ran through from Danville to Pekin in " less than three days." The 
fare one way was $10. " No disappointments unless the roads be impassable." Imagine 
a stage on a road in Illinois in a winter like that of 1877-78 ! 

0. Covel was the only insurance agent. 

James Allin, J. W. Fell and A. Gridley offered property in Decatur worth $600 
to $1,000, to any one who would start a saw-mill there. 

Edgar Conklin was a land agent at the town of Le Roy. 

Armstrong & Palmer, S. Baker & Co., Covel & Weed and James Allin were the 
leading dry goods merchants. 

The " Bloomington Hotel " was advertised for rent by A. Gridley. The building 
was one of the " finest." It contained thirty beds. As an inducement, the advertise- 
ment went on to say, '' Bloomington is the flourishing county seat of one of the first 
counties on the line of the stage route from Danville to Pekin." This hotel was after- 
ward known as the American House, and was moved away a few years since to make 
room for the fine buildings erected by Stevenson Bros, and Gen. Gridley, on East Front 
street. 

The county of Livingston was taken off of McLean in 1837, and entered upon 
its independent career; and Woodford was organized in 1840, partly from McLean and 
the rest from Tazewell County. These changes took but little business from Bloom- 
ington, however, as the territory named was very sparsely settled at the time of their 
organization. 

Previous to 1840, several of the most prominent and deserving of our present 
citizens, with others who are now dead, became residents of Bloomington ; but, for the 
period of time since the first sale of lots, we cannot take space to mention more than a 
few of the best known, and must, from the circumstances of the case, be excused for 
leaving out names equally worthy with those we mention. The field is altogether too 
large for the thorough cultivation it in truth deserves. Among those who arrived at 
this time, some of whom, perhaps, settled on farms in the neighborhood, were Jesse W. 
Fell, James B. Price, George Price, John Price, Dr. John F. Henry, Bailey H. Coffee, 
Ortugal Covel, William Gillespie, Wells Colton, Joshua H. Harlan, Welcome P. Brown, 
Andrew Dodd, G. B. Larrison, George S. Markley, John Magoun, John E. McClun, 
Peter Withers, J. C. Harbord, E. Platte, David Davis, William T. Major, Dr. L. S. 
Major, Dr. John M. Major, James Dcpew, W. II. Temple, Hon. James Miller, Thomas 
Williams, William Thomas, Samuel Lander, K. H. Fell, Andrew M. Scoggin, Abra- 
ham Brokaw, William F. Flagg, John W. Billings, John T. Gunnell, William 0. Viney, 
James T. Walton, Joshua R. Fell, Henry Richardson, Jonathan Glimpse, George 
Dietrich, Lewis Bunn, William G. Thompson, Allan Withers, Joel Depew, M. H. 
Hawks, W. C. Hobbs, James Depew, and others. Col. McCoUough, Dr. S. W. Noble, 



35 

S. D. Baker, Chastine Major, A. Stansberry, and several other prominent citizens, lived 
in various towns in McLean County in early days, and afterward moved into Bloomino-- 
ington. Their names will properly appear in the different township histories. 

Mr. Jesse W. Fell arrived in Bloomington in 1832. He was the first lawyer in 
Bloomington who had a regular diploma, though there were others who practiced law 
at about the same time. 

Mr. Fell was one of the most active and enterprising of the active men of the 
new town. With Mr. James Allin and Mr. Gridley he readily associated, and the 
three, in the words of one of our oldest citizens, formed a trio that could not be equaled. 
In every enterprise that promised the good of our city, Mr. Fell was ever one of the 
foremost, and if the full history of our city were written by a careful historian, it would 
be shown that to him is due as much credit as to any citizen of the place. His name 
will occur all through our history, though in 1855 he became a resident of North 
Bloomington, soon after called Normal. The history of Normal will give special men- 
tion of Mr. Jesse W. Fell, though during the twenty-five years of his residence there 
he has taken a warm interest in Bloomington's projects, having often been one of the 
most active and efficient in carrying forward our most important interests. 

It was during the time that elapsed from 1830 to 1840, that Bloomino-ton took an 
humble place in a history that has now become quite enviable. We have seen that at 
its start it possessed very few advantages over other towns that were projected and its 
prospects existed mainly in the brains of a few enterprising men, who attracted around 
them other men of the same character, of whom we have enumerated some of the most 
energetic and most effective in building a town at this point, where men were com- 
pelled to fight against the spirit of the age, against the popular ideas of the times. It 
was emphatically a " town-building " age. Paper towns were located, projected, bought 
sold, wholesaled, retailed, peddled, all over the entire land. The veriest dunce in the 
East could tell exactly what was required to build a town, as the newspapers were full of 
the current ideas. It was demonstrated that in order to build a town there must be 
timber, stone, water-power, coal and navigable waters, or the contemplated town must 
speedily give up its chances. Southern Illinois was full of towns of this character pos- 
sessing nearly every qualification required. The IlUnois River from its mouth to above 
Ottawa, was lined with these promising towns, or paper cities. 

Bloomington had barely enough timber for fuel, none for manufacturing purposes • 
had no stone, no coal, no navigation, and, worse than all, had no water to depend on for 
ordinary drinking purposes. Bloomington had no chance against towns like Peru, Ottawa 
or Joliet, which were looked upon as sure to become large cities. The idea of buildino- 
a good town here was ridiculed and scouted, and the men who were eno-ao-ed in the 
enterprise were often more discouraged than the present generation can realize. 

But we show in these pages how these men overcame all obstacles, and how in the 
present, success being achieved, it looks to those who only see the results, as if the city 
of Bloomington could scarcely help growing of itself The foundations for its success 
were laid in these early years, by the cementing and forming of that splendid public 
spirit of which we so often write in these pages. 

During this period several churches were organized, and their houses of worship 
were built ; quite a number of frame stores, and one good brick store, at the northeast 
corner of Main and Front streets, and a goodly number of residences. Several of these 



36 

last are still standing, among them the Allin residence, built in 1838, by W. H. Allin, 
just west of the present Baptist Church. The town must have looked quite small, as 
its total population, in 1840, did not much exceed 600. Its churches as then built 
were diminutive, its residences and stores small, and there were few indications of the fine 
structures which, within twenty years were to grace its streets. 

Three churches were built during this period — the Methodist, Baptist and the First 
Presbyterian — the latter the first brick church in Bloomington. Probably the city 
had a larger proportion of professing Christians in 1840, than at any later period 
of its history. The first brick Court House, built at a cost of $8,500, was erected in 1836. 
It was a famous building for the times, and was used until 1868. 

Several additions were made to the city, town lots having been the principal 
article of export, so to speak, in 1836, and from that time to 1840 they were a drug in 
the market. Many of these lots were sold at the East during the era of speculation, 
and, when the bubble burst, their owners allowed their investments to vanish, and the 
lots were sold for taxes. The various industries dependent upon agriculture, like black- 
smithing and wagon-making, were, however, well under way by the year 1840, and the 
town was beginning to grow in business importance more than in wealth and population. 

1840 TO 1850. 

During this period, Bloomington made a substantial advance, notwithstand- 
in"- the scarcity of money. At the beginning, in 1840, the whole country, East 
as well as West, was in the agonies of financial distress. This city suffered the 
most, perhaps, in the years 1841 and 1842, though it is likely that subsequently people 
had become so accustomed to the hard times that they made fewer complaints. Lands 
and town lots were almost valueless ; in many cases rich, improved farming-lands 
would sell for less than $1.25 per acre. People who did not own land felt they 
were fortunate — not being obliged to pay taxes. The most valuable property was 
our heavy timbered land. This, it was believed, had a real value, but wild prairie, a 
few miles distant from timber, was thought to be almost worthless. A large quantity 
of prairie had been entered during the flush times, from 1834 to 1836, and was now 
abandoned by the speculators who were generally compelled to go into bankruptcy. 

The times improved gradually, though even in 1849, when the gold excitement 
broke out, money was exceedingly scarce, and large numbers left this region who felt tha^, 
their chances for obtaining a competency were almost infinitesimal. Still, in spite of 
hard times, population increased. The great distress prevailing in the Eastern States 
forced families to emigrate, and many arrived, who came simply hoping to make a bare 
living, not looking for the rich rewards they ultimately obtained. We find that from 
1845 to 1850, the population of Bloomington increased from 800 to 1,611, showing a 
vigor that one would scarcely expect from the general condition of the country at large. 
The recovery of the country from the terrible prostration which occurred in 1836 was 
very gradual, but towns situated in the midst of as rich a country as there is surround- 
ing Bloomington, and inhabited by people of such energy and perseverance, recovered 
more rapidly than others, and by the end of this period our city — then a village — was 
once more on the high road to prosperity. As earlj as 1848, there was a movement 
toward the establishment of a college, there were several good high schools or academies 
ia operation, and there was talk of starting a city government, as the town or village 



37 

organization then existing was found to be almost entirely inoperative. The year 1850 
appears to mark the commencement of an era of enterprise. It was at this time that 
railroad-building began to revive, and among the many projects for making Bloom- 
ington a railroad center, it was seen that the Illinois Central, and, perhaps, several other 
railroads would reach this city in the course of the next five years. In less than three 
years two railroads were in operation. 

From 1842 to 1848, great numbers of the new, improved plows were introduced 
plows that would " scour " or work freely in the rich prairie soil, and by the year 1850, 
reapers were used to some extent, and farmers could see their way clearly. The day of 
toilsome hand-labor was about to give place to the corn-planter, the mower and the 
reaper, and the courage thus given to our farmers began to re-act upon the towns and 
cities situated in rich agricultural districts. These causes had great influence upon the 
growth and welfare of Bloomington. This city had the honor, as early as 1841 or 1842, 
to manufacture improved plows — those that would " scour." They were made in large 
numbers by Bunn, Ellsworth & Brokaw. 

W. F. Flagg and J. W. Ewing are entitled to great credit for their reaper which 
they brought to great perfection as early as 1848 and 1849. They were among the 
foremost inventors of improved reapers and manufactured a large number. Mr. Flagg 
soon after built his fine factory and carried on quite a large business. In reapers as 
well as plows, Bloomington's manufacturers soon had an enviable reputation. 

During the latter part of this decade, the ''Gold Fever," or California emigration, 
took away a large number of Bloomington's most energetic and active young men, who, 
with their expensive outfits, made a severe drain upon the town. Their places here 
were filled, and soon the village was going ahead as well as at any time in its history. 
Between 1840 and 1850, Bloomington experimented with a town or village government, 
having had a Board of Trustees with some of the powers of a city government. The 
result of the eftbrt was, that public sentiment crystallized into such a condition, that 
when the city charter was adopted in 1351, it found the way prepared for the steady 
and reliable municipal government that has prevailed for twenty-eight years. 

1850 TO 1860. 

In the beginning of this decade there was an advance in prosperity, and by 
the year 1852, this whole region was moved by a sudden impulse, to which all 
previous improvement was slow indeed. At this time, the Illinois Central Rail- 
road was building in good earnest ; its route was established ; Bloomington was a 
point on its line, and became headquarters for the contractors who were making the 
road, while the Chicago & Alton was commenced in the fall of the same year. 

May 23, 1853, the Illinois Central cars were running from La Salle to Bloom- 
ington ; and in the autumn of the same year, the other line was in operation from this 
place to Springfield. Both roads were soon after extended, so that two main lines were 
open, having been built rapidly, and Bloomingtonians were hardly ready to believe that 
these evidences of future growth and development could be real. It was at this time 
our city began to make giant strides. Houses and stores were rapidly built ; new streets 
opened ; additions laid out ; money became plenty, and prosperity reigned on every side. 
The growth of the county kept pace with the town, and fortunes were made in a year or 
two, by the sudden rise in the value of real estate. The population of the city was 



38 

1,611 in 1850, and rose to 5,000 in 1855, 7,000 in 1858, and was about 8,000 at the 
time of the Federal census in 1860. 

During this decade, Bloomington was ornamented by the beautiful residence of 
Gen. Gridley, built at a cost of $40,000, in 1859; and also the Gov. Matteson house, 
at the northeast corner of Jeflerson and Lee streets ; the Koadnight house, northwest 
corner Lee and Locust ; Col. Boyd's, Gen. Orme's, and several other fine residences. 
The "old Methodist Church" was erected in 1850. Thomas Williams was the con- 
tractor. The Baptist Church was built in 1857 ; A. H. Gage, architect and contractor. 
The Second Presbyterian Church and several other church-buildings date from about 
this time. The elegant National Bank building was erected in 1860. The Ashley 
House was built in 1857, as far as putting on the roof. The enterprise stopped till 
1862, when Mr. Thomas Ashley, Sr., finished the building. Those fine stores called Phoe- 
nix Block, on the south side of the square, and the north half of those buildings on 
the west, and three on the north side, now known as the Metropolitan Block, were all 
finished previous to 1860, as also Royce Block, and a fine block on Main street, south 
of the latter, burned, however, together with the NicoUs House, in a great fire in the 
winter of 1862. The west side of Main street, from Front to Washington, was built up 
before 1857, including the McLean County Bank, as was the large block of six fine 
stores on the south side of Front street, between Main and Center. Other improve- 
ments of importance also date from this period. The old Wesleyan College building, 
the Fourth Ward Public School, Major's Female College, Conover's Female Seminary, 
and the Normal, were all either completed or well under way before the year 1860. It 
was during this period that the Chicago & Alton shops were also started (they employed 
180 men in 1857), and the large manufacturing establishment of Flagg's (now the chair- 
factory), with other important shops, began to give Bloomington the air of a manufact- 
uring as well as that of a commercial and educational center, and it was now fairly 
started on its career of usefulness and importance. 

During the ten years under consideration, the population of Bloomington under- 
went a remarkable change. Instead of a purely American community, as in 1850, the 
year 1860 found here a large sprinkling, in all, perhaps, two thousand or more, of for- 
eigners, who had come to stay. The building of the two railroads had brought hither 
a large number of Irish workmen, and their presence induced the settlement of many 
of the best class of Irish, men of education and means, who cast in their lot with their 
countrymen, forming in the aggregate a very valuable element of the total population 
of the city. 

The increase of Germans was also very large, particularly in the years 1854 to 
1858. They were a hard-working, well-behaved class, who, with their successors, have 
now become numerous, and who, for general good-conduct, industry and good-citizen- 
ship are not surpassed by any nationality in Bloomington. At the rate they are now 
increasing, and allowing that they continue to accumulate money for fifty years as they have 
during the past twenty, the Gei'mans will predominate in numbers, wealth and influence. 

It was between 1853 and 1858 that the great speculation occurred in town lots 
and farm property, 'i^he rapid building of the town created a demand for lots that 
astonished all the old residents. Even men like the old leaders, Messrs. Allin, Fell, 
Gridley and Davis, could not keep their ideas up with the improvements going on all 
around them. 



39 

When the Chicago & Alton depot and machine-shops were located, in 1853, they 
were so far out of town that people going there from where the Ashley House now 
stands made a straight cut across the prairie most of the distance, though it was hardly 
three years before the whole space was filled with houses and buildings. In the year 
1856, there over two hundred buildings erected in Bloomington, very many of them in 
the northwestern part, and the total cost of improvements during that single year was 
over a quarter of a million. During the four years from 1854 to 1858, our city made 
giant strides. Several additions were laid out and large sums of money were realized 
from the sale of lots. 

The panic of 1857 prostrated Bloomington but temporarily, although many of its 
most enterprising men were overwhelmed in ruin. The failure of the crop of winter 
wheat in 1858 was felt most severely, as many of our city people were now land spec- 
ulators or gentleman farmers, cultivating farms by contracts with tenants — and the 
result added largely to the general distress. We shall find, however, that, in the course 
of a few years, the city had recuperated, and was again growing as fast as ever before 
in its history. 

1860 TO 1870. 

At the beginning of the time now under consideration, the business of the country 
was in a fair condition, but was threatened with overthrow and prostration by the civil 
war, then scarcely believed in by most, though its effects were being felt, imperceptibly, 
perhaps, but still eflFectually hindering improvement. In a short time the efi"orts of all 
were directed to saving what was then possessed, with little thought of further accumu- 
lation ; but the results of strife and commotion were, after all, not unfavorable to growth 
and prosperity, as we find that as early as 1862 the city was well under way in its career 
of prosperity. At the close of the war in 1865, buildings were springing up on every 
hand. The year 1866 gave us Liberty Block, the old Post Office Block, Schroeder's 
Block, and other buildings completed ; and before the year 1870, we can chronicle the 
completion of some more stores on the north and several on the west side of the Public 
Square, with other improvements. We also note the completion of the immense new 
railroad shops, the fine new Court House, the High School, the First, Third and Fifth 
Ward school-buildings, the Free Congregational Church, the fine residences of Dwight 
Harwood, R. E. Williams, Laurence Weldon, W. F. Flagg, Peter Whitmer, and others 
equally well worthy of mention. The rapid growth of the city in the northern and 
northeastern directions occurred at about this time. The population of the place nearly 
or quite doubled in these ten years, it being about fifteen thousand, by the United 
States census of 1870, while the value of buildings erected, reckoned, of course, on the 
inflated basis, was over $2,000,000. In this period, we must credit the building of the 
Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western, the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alton, 
and the commencement of the La Fayette & Bloomington Railroads, all of which con- 
tributed largely to the wonderful prosperity of the thriving city. At the close of this 
period, the Chicago & Alton shops were burned October 31, 1867, and, in order to 
secure their rebuilding at Bloomington, the city voted 855,000 in bonds to remunerate 
the company for land purchased for the enlarged shops, and the city also vacated several 
streets and alleys desired. This issue of bonds could not be legal until a special act of 
the Legislature was obtained. This was done, but the bill was vetoed by Gov. Palmer, 
on the ground of unconstitutionality. Bloomington sent a lobby of thirty or forty 



40 

influential men to Springfield, who presented their case to the Legislature so well that the 
bill was passed over the Governor's veto. These bonds have since been paid, principal and 
interest, though if opposition had been made, there is no doubt the constituion would have 
prevented the collection of the taxes. The securing of these shops, the passage of the 
law and the ultimate payment of this money, make a chapter of history that exhibits 
the pluck and determination of Bloomington better than almost any other event since 
its settlement. 

The increase of wealth during the ten years from 1860 to 1870 was entirely without 
precedent in the history of Bloomington. Business of all kinds prospered ; there were 
few business failures, and our citizens generally believed the road to fortune was open 
and plain before them, with no devious windings, no pit-falls, no danger of failure. A 
different state of affairs, however, will be pictured in the next chapter. 

1870 TO 1879. 

When the war closed, most people looked for a sudden fall in values, and a rapid 
return to the old paths of plodding industry, but, to their surprise, the career of pros- 
perity lasted until the panic of 1873, and, as a consequence, Bloomington still continued 
to add to its borders, to beautify its churches, its residences, and in various directions 
put on the airs of a metropolitan city. Even when the panic of 1873 had demonstrated 
that the country at large had received a check, Bloomington continued to build and 
enlarge, to embark in enterprises, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge that for a time, at 
least, the city must wait for the further growth of the country in its rear. Building did 
not stop till 1877, and even then could scarcely be said to be at an end. In the early 
years of this decade, the elegant Wesleyan College, the beautiful Minerva Block, Roush 
& Humphrey's and Oberkcjetter's fine wholesale blocks, Ives Block, the two Swan Blocks, 
Davis Block, containing Durley Hall, the tasteful People's Bank, Livingston Block, the 
stone front on the east side of the square, Washington Block, and many other fine 
stores, were finished. The new Post Office Building, corner of Front and Center, one of 
the best blocks in the city, was built in 1876, by L. Ferre. It is a building remarkably 
well adapted to the purpose designed. 

The many brick stores on West Chestnut street were erected during the early part 
of this decade, it being evident from the building of the immense machine-shops that 
there would be a permanent demand for these structures. During these ten years, the 
city built over a mile of Nicolson (wooden) pavement, commenced its system of sewers 
and built its Water Works and City Hall. 

To this period, we credit, also, the elegant new Methodist Church, the Episcopal 
Church, the large Catholic Church, and several small churches. A large number of fine 
private houses date from 1870 to 1879. Among these we will mention that of Judge 
David Davis, in 1871, costing over $50,000, and that of Dr. C. Wakefield, in 1873, cost- 
ing $25,000, and several others of great value and beauty. 

Population has increased from 15,000 to an honest 18,000, though we flatter our- 
selves that a certain directory census taken in 1873 — under a contract giving no pay 
unless there might be found 20,000 souls — is a reliable indication that our population 
exceeded the desired figure by 100 at that time. 

Although Bloomington merchants did some wholesaling previous to 1870, the 
growth of this branch of our commerce has been wonderful in the last ten years. There 



41 

are now forty wholesale firms, employing over sixty traveling men, selling goods in six 
or seven diiferent States, who are missionaries to inform the whole world of the advan- 
tages to be derived from trade with the thriving city of Bloomington. 

This wholesale business and the successful enterprise of several of our manufactur- 
ers, taken together, give evidence of future prosperity, when " better times " shall 
arrive. 

Our scene is now drawing to a close. We have pictured Bloomington feebly, but 
we have tried to indicate that in its day of "small beginnings " it was a town of unusual 
vigor, and contained a vast amount of " reserve power." We have seen it arise from 
the crash of 1836, before the country at large had recovered, and found it well on its 
way to renewed prosperity long before the croakers conceived such an outcome could 
be possible. We saw Bloomington prostrate again in 1857, and before long it again 
resounded with the click of the mason's trowel and echoed to the hammer of the busy 
carpenter. We have traced the record of the third financial crisis, and found our city 
— like the whole nation, East and West — prostrated in a degree, but not hopeless. 
Unlike the previous occasions of disaster, the history of the present has the strong relief 
of the brightly. dawning prosperity upon a permanent basis of financial honesty and 
national good faith. 

Everything is ready for the " good time coming." Bloomington has its sails all 
set. It is ready for the fair wind. Its storehouses, its manufactories, its radiating rail- 
roads, its energetic merchants, its cautious capitalists — all are here on the spot, capable 
of carrying the name and fame of our good city to greater lengths, to higher flights 
than ever known before. The generation of active young men now on the stage or 
about to take their places there, are, a majority of them, born Bloomingtonians. Let 
them study the proud record of the achievements of their fathers, and resolve that, 
come what will, the Bloomington of the future shall at least be the equal of the Bloom- 
ington of the past. 

GEN. GRIDLEY'ii RECOLLECTIONS. 

The following statement was given by Gen. Gridley to a short-hand reporter as a 
conversation, and written out by the reporter subsequently. It does not pretend to be 
anything more than a slight sketch of prominent facts, given as an interview. 

"I came to this county the 8th day of October, 1831. This county was organ- 
ized by an act of the Legislature during their session in the winter of 1830 and 1831. 
This city was laid out in June, 1831, by the then County Commissioners John Cheney, 
of Cheney's Grove; Timothy D. Hoblit, of Big Grove (now in De Witt County), and 
Jesse Havens, of Haven's Grove. The first sale of lots was on the 4th day of July, 
1831. They were sold by the County Commissioners. The proceeds of that sale 
amounted to about $300, which was used to build a Court House. The land in the 
original town of Bloomington was donated by James AUin to the county for that 
purpose. This county before that time was a part of Tazewell County. There were 
not over ten or a dozen families in Bloomington when I came here. There were Col. 
Latta, Dr. Baker, Dr. Wheeler, James AUin, David Trimmer, Robert Guthrie, William 
McKisson, and there were a few others. Mr. McKisson was not married at that 
time, but married shortly after. I recollect old John Dawson. When I arrived in this 
county, he was residing sixteen miles east of Bloomington, on the Indian Camp. I 
don't know of any Indians being there at that time. He was a man of strong good 



42 

principle, natural good sense and a thoroughly honest man, with a strong will, of great 
kindness. Integrity and hospitality to strangers were the general characteristics of 
the early settlers of this county, treating a stranger as well as an acquaintance with 
the greatest kindness. Of the early settlers of this county, I never knew of but one 
family that were inclined to be dishonest. Some of them are here now, and some of 
them went away. John Dawson had early acquired a good deal of property, and was 
considered quite a wealthy man, but he lost a good deal and gave security for a good 
many. 

"Old Dr. Baker came to McLean County in 1830 ; he was a very excellent man ; 
he never practiced medicine. He was Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners 
and Clerk of the Probate Court ; was Postmaster several years. He was a kind, gen- 
erous-hearted man, giving information with regard to real estate and business matters 
generally, within his knowledge, without compensation. He died about six years ago. 

" There were no Indians around here when I came, except a few Pottawatomies, 
who had their homes up in Indian Grove, in Livingston County. 

"In the spring of 1832, we raised a company for the Black Hawk war. Mr. L. 
Covel was the Captain and I was First Lieutenant and Baldwin was Second Lieuten- 
ant. The company consisted of fifty-six mustered men, each man furnishing his own 
horse and equipage. Leaving here in June, we were attached to Stillman's Battalion at 
Peoria. Arrived at Dixon, on Rock River, a few days later, and there learned that 
Black Hawk was about thirty miles up the river. We were to await, at Dixon, the 
arrival of the main army. The volunteers in Stillman's Battalion numbered just 206 
men. The men were very anxious to go and clean out the Indians, and not wait for 
the regulars. So we went on and came up with the Indians, six or seven hundred 
strong, a little way on the other side of what is now called Stillman's Run. I cannot 
say much about the fight, but this, and that is, we got most beautifully whipped in the 
fight with the Indians. We only lost one man from this county, and his name is Joseph 
Draper ; he was in our company. After the fight, we returned to Dixon, thirty miles 
distant, the best way we could. 

" Soon after the battle, we were sent back to this county and mustered out of serv- 
ice. Soon after this, another company was formed and mustered into the service. That 
company was commanded by Capt. John H. S. Rhodes, who was killed on the I., B. & 
W. Railroad, about two years ago. 

FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 1837. 

" The great financial crisis was in 1837, but it was beginning to be felt in 1836. 
It was caused by the Government of the United States withdrawing its deposits from 
the banks, and also by the wild speculations in real estate at that time, and consequently 
the establishment of State banks, and wild-cat banks sprang up in every direction in 
their stead. 

" The greatest number of wild-cat banks sprang up in Michigan. They started so 
many in that State that they found difficulty in getting names for them all. To give 
you an idea of the number of banks at that time, if you had $1,000 in bills, there 
would be in that $1,000 the bills of over two hundred different banks. The Michigan 
money at that time went by the name of red-dog, as the bills were most of them printed 
on red. 



43 

" The real estate speculation, which was one of the causes of our financial trouble 
in 1836 and 1837, was mostly in starting up towns and speculating in town lots. Town 
lots here at that time brought as high as $150 a lot. After the crash came, they would 
not bring over $5 apiece. I went to Philadelphia in 1836, and sold about $20,000 or 
$30,000 worth of lots, and these very same lots, after the panic, could be bought at any 
price ; and the purchasers of a good many of the lots I sold at that time, and, in fact, 
the majority, never thought it worth while to pay the taxes on them. The lots here in 
Allin & Gridley's Addition would not bring over $4 or $5, and the parties in the East 
let them go for taxes. 

" During the time of the real estate speculations, a great many towns were laid 
out all over the country ; in fact, most everybody was laying out towns or wanted to. 
A good many of these towns never came to anything, and then again, some of them 
did well. At that time, Mr. Jesse Fell laid out Clinton, and I think he can be proud 
of that town, for it is a good, thriving city. The people living around Big Grove, 
De Witt County, wanted a town, and as the settlement was around the edge of the 
Grove, they all wanted a town right in the center, so it would be easy of access and to 
suit them all. We had a sale there and it was a very good one. I do not remember 
just what the lots did bring apiece, but I think the sale amounted to $600 or $700. 
As a town, it was a failure, like a good many others. 

" In 1836, Gen. Bartholomew laid out a little town and called it Clarksville, not 
far from Lexington ; but that town, like the one in Big Grove, was a failure. Mr. 
James Brown and myself laid out Lexington, sixteen miles north of Bloomington ; that 
was a good location and they have a fine town there. 

" Gen. Covell and myself, about the same time, laid out LeRoy ; that is sixteen 
miles east of Bloomington, and that was also a success. 

THE BANKRUPTCY LAW. 

" The bankruptcy law of 1840 took efi"ect in the spring of 1841, and cost a man 
about $25 to get through. Every person that had done any kind of business here 
was entirely used up. 

*' All the bankruptcy business was done at Springfield, in the court there ; and I 
had fifty-one cases in that court from this section of the country. Every man that 
had been engaged in business here took the benefit of the law. 

" The assignee's labors were light as the assets were small, and sometimes they 
were nothing, as everybody was broken up, and book accounts were of no v^lue whatever. 

" In those days, when we run a mill by horse-power, the horses walked on a large 
round platform, and the horse kept on walking but never got any farther. Mr. 
■ Solomon Dodge got a notion into his head that by putting a wagon heavily loaded with 
stone in place of the horses, it would answer the same purpose. So he fixed up his 
mill, and on a certain day he gave notice that all would be ready to start. On that 
day, people flocked from far and wide to see the wonderful new motive power. Well, he 
got everything ready, and yelled out to his brother to cut the string which held the 
wagon-tongue to the side of the building, and to his utter amazement the mill stood as 
still as when the wagon was tied up. The adventure was a failure. 



44 

LAWYERS. 

" Jesse W. Fell was the first lawyer, Welcome P. Brown was the second and Judge 
David Davis was the third. George S. Markley was the fourth, and then came Albert 
Dodd and myself. Albert Dodd was drowned in the Mackinaw while coming home from 
a political convention in 1840. The first Court House was a small frame building, and 
set in the middle of the square, in the same spot where our present magnificent Court 
House now stands. It was only a one-story structure, and was built at a cost of 
8300. The first Court was held in a part of Dr. Stipp's house. Judge Lockwood 
presided. The Court was not in session over five minutes — there was no business to be 
done. 

" John H. Pugh, John T. Stuart and several others that have taken prominent 
parts in our history, were in attendance at that Court. The new brick Court House was 
built in 1836. Mr. Munsell, of Paris, Edgar County, was the contractor. Judge S- 
D. Lockwood was the first Judge. Judge Treat succeeded him. Judge Logan was here 
for a short time, perhaps for two terms of Court. Judge David Davis succeeded him. 
The district comprised at that time about sixteen counties. After Judge Davis was 
appointed on the Supreme Bench by President Lincoln, Judge John M. Scott was 
elected in his place, and he was our Circuit Judge until he was elected to the Supreme 
Court of this State, and he was succeeded by Judge Thomas F. Tipton, and he was 
followed by Judge Otis T. Reeves, who is still our Judge for this district. 

" Col. Baker practiced here, and was one of the most eloquent speakers I ever, 
heard. Judge Davis practiced law, before his election to the Judgeship, in partnership 
with Wells Colton, who afterward moved to St. Louis and was killed there in the great 
fire of 1849. He had a great deal of ability, and had an excellent legal mind, and 
would have been a very prominent man in the legal profession if he had lived. Gen. 
Covel came to Bloomington in May, 1831. He was Postmaster for a time, and Clerk 
of the Circuit Court for many years. He went to Washington to take a position under 
Polk, in about 1845, and died while there. He was an upright and honest man. 

" Col. E. D. Baker was the finest speaker there was at the bar. He was truly an 
elo(|uent man. While he was in partnership with me, he never examined any case or 
prepared any himself, and, in the financial part, he never looked at the books, but came 
to me and took it for granted that everything was all right. I remember one case that 
we were very much interested in (and one of his prominent traits was his great fondness 
for ladies' society), and we desired him to make a careful examination of the papers. 
In the evening, we had a gathering at our house. I put the papers in my pocket, and, 
during the evening, I had him come out in another room to look over the papers. He 
took them, put them in his pocket without examining them, and, to my surprise, he 
knew as much about them as though he had given them a careful and thorough exam- 
ination ; but that was one of the peculiar characteristics of the man, and I never saw 
a man that could equal him in summing up a case. 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 

" Abraham Lincoln was one of the first lawyers that practiced at this bar. When 
Mr. Lincoln had a good case, he was invincible ; when he had a poor case, or one in 
which he thought he had not justice on his side, I would rather be against him than 
any man I know. When he had an idea that he was in the wrong, he could not take 



45 

the same interest, and I could win nine cases out of ten of that kind when Mr. Lincoln 
was on the other side. 

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS 

practiced at this Court. He never amounted to much as a lawyer ; that is to say, he 
never took rank with Lincoln and Baker. Douglas was District Attorney for this Dis- 
trict. When he came here he always stayed with me, and always, up to the time of 
his death, we were warm personal friends. As a man, he was honorable and just. As 
District Attorney he was not a success, and I don't believe he convicted one case out of 
ten that he was interested in. 

" I was elected to the Legislature in 184U. Welcome P. Brown was my opponent. 
In that memorable campaign, we got up a monster procession and went from here to 
Peoria. We had a large canoe, hewn out of a tree, and put on wheels, and in it we had 
twelve of the soldiers of the war of 1812. The canoe was drawn by twelve horses. 
We stopped in all the towns on the way — Mackinaw, Tremont and others — and held 
meetings there, and they were good ones, too. Everybody turned out. I don't know 
of any of these soldiers now living. * * * 

THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD. 

"At the time of fixing the location of the Illinois Central Railroad, in 1851, I 
was in the Senate. There I met Robert Rantoul, and, by an arrangement with him, I 
secured the location of the road within five miles of the line of Town 22, Range 2 east, 
which brought it to within two miles of Bloomington, and on the same line as Decatur 
and Clinton. They had to build fifty miles of the road within two years from the time 
they obtained the charter, and they built that fifty miles from La Salle to Bloomington. 
There was a great pressure brought to bear. They first contemplated building the road 
from Cairo up the Wabash, then to Gralena; then again, they were worked upon by 
another element to run the road by another line, taking in Peoria and Springfield ; the 
strong point in favor of the last proposed route was that they would have a paying trade 
much sooner than by any other line they could run. It was true they would not get so 
much land, but the increase in trade, at the outside, would more than pay for the difiference 
in the amount of land. At the time the Illinois Central Railroad came into Blooming- 
ton, we had a population of 2,500 inhabitants. The Chicago & Alton Railroad was 
built from Springfield to Bloomington in 1854. The name of the road at that time 
was Chicago & Mississippi Railroad. 

BANKING. 

" I commenced banking in Bloomington in March, 1853. The charter for the 
McLean County Bank was obtained in March, 1853, and was to run twenty -five years. 
My partners at the time were J. Young Scammon and J. A. Burch, but, before the end 
of two years, I owned the entire stock. My deposits for the first five years were about 
$200,000. The next thing in that line was a kind of broker's office, started by John 
R. Smith & Co., and their place of business was where Phoenix Block now stands. 
But the next regular bank that was established here was the La Fayette Bank, south- 
west corner of Center and Jefi"ei-son streets, in the year 1857. In the first place, I had 
Missouri State bonds, but they commenced to decline and I exchanged them for Illinois 
bonds and lost $12,000. John R. Smith held on to his and lost by it. If he had 
exchanged them when I did, it would have been better for him. The amount of bank 
capital invested here in Bloomington now is about $800,000. After the State Bank 



46 

broke, we had wild-cat banks, and plenty of them. We had some gold and silver, but 
coin did not circulate very much at that time. Out of one hundred banks, ninety of 
them were wild-cat. All that many of these banks had to depend on to keep them 
running was their deposits. They would take their bank-bills and place them in the 
hands of brokers to pay out, and they would leave their bonds as security ; so, in 
reality, they got nothing, and the brokers made all the money there was made. There 
was a man by the name of Jones who owned twelve different wild-cat banks. 

JESSE W. FELL. 

" He came to Bloomington a year later than I did, in the year 1832. He gave 
his attention to the practice of the law about two years after he came here, after which 
time he engaged largely in land operations, becoming interested in lands in the county 
of McLean, and also in the county of Cook, in the immediate neighborhood of Chicago. 
If he had continued in the legal profession and used the same energy that he did in his 
other public enterprises, he would have made his mark among the legal talent of the 
State and country. A man of indomitable will, thorough business qualifications, fine 
intellect, worthy of any trust, and whom I have known now forty years and known him 
intimately, and he stands without a blemish or blot on his character as a citizen and 
friend. ASHAEL GRIDLEY." 

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. 

From the time when Blooming Grove was a part of Fayette County, till some time 
after the laying-out of the town of Bloomington, the local government was in the hands 
of County Commissioners, aided slightly by what were called precinct organizations. 
The voting was done by precincts, and a Justice of the Peace and a Constable voted for 
in each, after the year 1827 — and these, with some other little affairs, were attended to 
at the elections — but the main business was done at the county seat by the Commission- 
ers. The first precincts were formed in Fayette County in 1826. In 1831, in 
McLean County, Blooming Grove Precinct was almost one-quarter as large as the 
county is now. It then contained over six townships, but it was afterward made smaller. 
Voting was always done in Bloomington, after 1829, even after the organization of the 
village. Then when the city was formed it was the same — all State and county elections 
being held under the precinct government. Under the township organization, in 1858, 
and ever since, it has continued in the same manner down to the present time. 

In 1857, township organization was adopted in IMcLean County, and the new town 
governments were set in motion April 6, 1858. The new system was inaugurated by 
the election of the following Board, many of whom are historic characters, whose 
names often occur in our annals : Supervisor, John E. McClun ; Assistant Supervisor, 
David Simons ; Collector, John L. Routt, recently Governor of Colorado ; Assessor, 
W. H. Hodge. Mr. John N. Larrimorewas Town Clerk, and filled the office more than 
twelve years. The Justices were Z. Lawrence, S. B. Brown, M. H. Hawks, S. Johnson 
and Henry S. Herr. The Constables were John W. Allin, John W. Haggard, Alexan- 
der Steele, James Taffee and Norvel Dixon. This system of town government has con- 
tinued with very little change, down to the present time. The township of Bloomington 
now elects six members of the County Board of Supervisors. For the year 1879, these 
are Peter Whitmer, Supervisor ; Assistants, George P. Davis, Duncan M. Funk, W. T. 
M. Miller, A. Brokaw and Isaac Lash. In 1850, the total population of Bloomington 
Township was 1,554 ; in 1800, it was 6,930 ; in 1870, it was 14,590, of whom 3,898, 



47 

were foreigners, and there were 235 colored persons. The township, outside of the city 
limits, had, in 1870, 1,829 inhabitants. 

The township is six miles square, and includes nearly every acre of what was for- 
merly Blooming Grove. The city of Bloomington includes only about four square miles 
of Bloomington Township, and it takes in also about one square mile from the township 
of Normal — hence, we find the name Bloomington applies to a large tract of land — 
about thirty-seven square miles in all, but has a different meaning when used as a city, 
from what it has when the township is intended to be understood ; a fact that causes 
considerable trouble at our different elections. 

The valuation of Bloomington Township, as equalixed by the County Board in July? 
1878, is $3,920,498. This is probably one-half of the actual value, assessments being 
now made in about that proportion. This valuation includes only the city and town- 
ship as found lying within the sis-miles-square territorial township. 

The County School Superintendent's report for 1878, shows a total of 361 children 
enrolled in the public schools of this township outside of the city. Of children of 
school age, under twenty-one years old, there are 761. The total exjjenditures for the schools 
for the same period were $4,406. The township school fund amounts to $6,264. There 
are nine district schools, and the sehoolhouses are valued at $10,000. Thomas J. Bunn 
is Township School Treasurer. Taxes are very light in the township, but very heavy 
in all that portion which lies within the city corporation ; and, from all we can learn, 
we believe those living outside of the city limits are very well contented with township 
organization, which, while it includes also the city, allows the city Board of Education to 
manage the schools, and the city government to control the police and other matters. 

TOWN OR VILLAGE ORGANIZATION. 

It has been impossible to learn the history of the first organization of the corpora- 
tion of Bloomington. The original town site, bounded by North, East, West and 
Front streets, was enlarged in 1831 by an addition platted by James Allin ; and other 
additions, to the number of over fifty, have been made from time to time. 

As early as 1838, there was a town, or, more properly, a village organization of all 
the territory included in the original town and its additions, with a Board of Trustees, 
President and a Clerk. Seth Baker was President in 1838. There was an act of the 
Legislature passed in 1838, relating to the government of the " town of Bloomington," 
and this act was afterward amended, with a proviso that it should be voted upon by the 
people of Bloomington. This was done, and a Board of Trustees elected, who took 
their offices on the 1st day of July, 1843. A full record of their proceedings was 
kept by Merritt L. Covell, who was the Clerk, and from this date we find complete 
records at our City Clerk's ofl&ce. Bailey H. Coffey, M. H. Hawks, John Magoun, 
James T. Walton and William Gillespie were the Trustees ; Matthew H. Hawks was 
chosen President ; Wells Colton was made Attorney, Joshua H. Harlan, Treasurer, and 
William McCuUough, Constable. It appears that a " grocery license " was placed at 
$25 per year, and that during the year 1843 there was only one " grocery " licensed. 
This would indicate that our •* city fathers " did not know how to run a town on tem- 
perance principles much better than their successors. 

We find there was no City Hall in those days, as, November 20, 1844, the Trustees 
met at the store of A. J. Merriman ; December 24, another meeting convened at the 



48 

store of M. H. Hawks, while, May 14 of the next year, the meetings were held at the 
County Court House. In the year 1845, the total amount of taxes to be collected for 
the year was only $82. 

In 1847, the Western Whig was the official organ. In 1848, we find the Trust- 
ees were John Foster, John N. Ewing, W. G. Thompson, George W. Minier and C. 
P. Merriman. The latter gentleman was chosen President, and A. J, Merriman, Clerk 
and Treasurer. Mr. George W. Minier, then teacher of a seminary or select school, 
now living at Minier, Tazewell Co., 111., was village President in 1848, and John 
M. Scott, now Justice of the Supreme Court of this State, was the Clerk. An election 
was held March 5, 1850, "for or against" incorporation as a city. There were 164 
votes for the city charter, and 26 votes against. This might be taken as indicating a 
small population, not over one thousand, but there must have been a light vote, as we 
learn that at a census taken in 1850, by William McCullough, the total number of 
inhabitants was 1,611. 

CITY ORGANIZATION. 

After the varying experience of precinct and town or village governments, the 
rapid growth of Bloomington required for its proper development a full and complete 
city government with all its powers and capabilities, and in 1850 the change- occurred. 
Rev. David I. Perry was the first Mayor, and the first Aldermen were Jay N. Ward, 
Bailey H. Coffey, WiUiam Gillespie and E. Thomas. John M. Scott was City Clerk 
and Attorney. The succession of Mayor and Aldermen has continued without inter- 
ruption from that day to the present. Improvements were made gradually at first, 
consisting of sidewalks and better streets, followed soon by fire-engines, street-lamps, 
police and the numerous conveniences of a city life. The city of Bloomington pursued 
at first a very conservative, economical course. Until after 1866, there was no debt. 
All improvements were paid for out of current taxation. Its present debt of $120,000 
is mainly in 8-per-cent bonds, two-thirds of it being the cost of the Water Works. The 
school debt is managed by the government called the Board of Education, which is 
independent of the City Council. 

From what we can learn of the history of our city government, it appears to have 
been constantly growing in the confidence and respect of the public, and its offices were 
generally filled with honorable gentlemen. 

The following persons were elected Mayor in the year placed opposite their names : 

David I. Perry 1850 

Charles P. Merriman 1851 

John H. Wickizer 1852 

William Wallace 1853 

John W. Evans 1854 

Franklin Price 1855 

Franklin Price 1856 

A. J. Merriman 1857 

A. .1. Merriman 1858 

.John M. Stilwell 1859 

H. S. Herr I860 

George W. Parke 18G1 

George W. Parke 1862 

A. J. Merriman 1863 

Joel Depew 1864 



E. H. Rood 1865 

E. H. Rood 1866 

E. H. Rood 1867 

John M. Stilwell 1868 

John M. Stilwell 1869 

T. J. Bunn 1870 

B. F. Funk 1871 

B. F. Funk 1872 

B. F. Funk 1878 

B. F. Funk 1874 

B. F. Funk 1875 

E. B. Steere ..1876 

T. J. Bunn 1877 

John Reed 1878 

E. B. Steere 1879 



49 

The present members of the City Council are : First Ward — Nelson C. Sweeney, 
term expires 1881 ; Josiah Richardson, term expires 1880. Second Ward — William 
Condon, term expires 1881 ; L! Seibert, term expires 1880. Third Ward — William 
W. Stevenson, term expires 1881 ; Enoch J. Moore, term expires 1880. Fourth Ward 
— Peter Rockwell, term expires 1881 ; William Maddux, term expires 1880. Fifth 
Ward — Daniel Hegarty, term expires 1881 ; Patrick Keating, 1880. Sixth Ward — 
John W. Evans, term expires 1881 ; Frank White, term expires 1880. The following- 
are the present " appointed " officers of the city : Peter Rockwell, Acting Mayor ; 
B. D. Lucas, Attorney ; Samuel W. Waddle, Clerk ; Charles W. Robinson, Treasurer ; 
Ira Merchant, Engineer and Commissioner of Sidewalks ; Uri 0. Andrus, Street Com- 
missioner ; Marion X. Chuse, Chief Engineer Fire Department and Superintendent 
Water Works ; John Dawson, Health Commissioner ; Matt. C. Smith, Oil Inspector ; 
William Clarke, City Weigher ; William Riebe, City Sexton ; Adam Guthrie, James 
B. Sargent, Assessors ; Sebastian Hohman, J. B. Chipman, Collectors ; James Stone, 
Special Collector ; Elliott S. Miller, Marshal ; J. P. Butler, Captain of Night Police ; 
J. E. Bentley, Sergeant of Police. 

The growth of Bloomington is plainly shown by the following table : 

1834, census taken by Allan Wither.* 180 

1836, " " Allan Withers 450 

1845, " " .J. E. Parke 800 

1850, " " William McCuUough 1,611 

1855, " " E.B.Mitchell 5,000 

1860, " " John Dawson 8,000 

1865, " " N.H.Pike 10,000 

1868, " " Holland 14,980 

1870, " " Holland 17,019 

1873, " " City Council 20,100 

The city records have been kept with great care and accuracy from the time when 
His Honor John M. Scott, was Clerk, in 1850, to the present, when Mr. Samuel W. 
Waddle takes care of the books. As our work is more to preserve that portion of our 
history which is not to be found readily accessible, we shall leave future historians most 
of the mine of information that is in the city records, untouched and intact. We 
might refer to the perfect organization of our City Government, every part of which, 
like a portion of some machine, is adjusted accurately to its neighbor, so that its opera- 
tions are performed with scarcely a jar. The annual election brings into notice a little 
racket and noise, which is all the citizens generally ever hear of their municipal gov- 
ernment. And yet, the doings of our city police and magistrates are of themselves of 
immense importance, while the fire department, the engineering service, and the annual 
expenditures on pavements, sewers, water works and streets, taken together, are of vastly 
more consequence than a large majority of the matters recorded in this history ; but, as 
above stated, the records of these are so perfectly preserved and so easy of access that 
we have thought best to confine our labors mainly to tracing up and recording incidents 
that might otherwise be forever lost. 

SCHOOLS. 

A sketch of the history of the schools of Bloomington is incomplete unless it 
makes a reference to the great work of the past through the voluntary channels of 
private schools and seminaries. 



50 

It seems that when there were but three or four families in Blooming Grove, a 
school was started in 1823, by John W. Dawson in his own house, taught for two terms 
by Miss Delilah Mullen — the first teacher in McLean County. This private school was 
followed by a larger one, taught by W. H. Hodge in a schoolhouse built by subscription 
in the OrendorfF neighborhood, and for many years the greater part, in most cases the 
whole, of the teacher's wages in this State was paid by subscription. W. H. Hodge 
taught at the Grove several winters, and there were also at diiFerent times other teachers 
at the same place. He opened a school in Bloomington village in 1831 ; taught two 
weeks, and his term was finished by A. C. Washburne. For years after this, there was 
a combination of " free schools " and " pay schools." The public money formed the 
basis, and it was used under certain conditions, either in a wholly free school, or in one 
where those who were able and willing paid a subscription to help the good cause along. 

These free schools were comparatively unimportant, however, until a later date, the 
best schooling being obtained for many years from subscription schools. Mr. A. C. 
Washburne's school was kept up until 1834, when Mr. L. Foster's school became the 
leading institution, sometimes called " High School," often " The Seminary." Mr. 
Foster built a schoolhouse of his own, and is entitled to a high position among our early 
educators. Foster's Seminary is still standing in this city. It was built on Taylor 
street, second door west of Dr. Hill's residence. Rev. George W. Minier followed Mr. 
F. in 1847, and he was succeeded by Dr. Finley, of Jacksonville. Prof D. Wilkins 
was here in 1852, organized a Board of Trustees, and gave the institution a high-sounding 
name — " The Central Illinois Female Seminary." For several years the school was 
quite well attended, young ladies being here from various towns and cities in the State. 
Prof. Wilkins purchased the Seminary, and was teaching there as late as 1857. 

Miss Parsons kept a good school about this time, for the training of young ladies ; 
and there were at various dates other good private institutions of learning. 

Rev. R. Conover's Bloomington Female Seminary, a Presbyterian institution, was 
for a long time a power in Central Illinois. It was started on Grove street ( where the 
building now stands as a residence) in 1856, and continued in existence sixteen years. 
It often contained as high as ninety pupils, and during its life gave instruction to over 
one thousand young ladies. It was an institution of quite a high order, and would proba- 
bly have been sustained permanently, but for the greater efficiency of the modern pub- 
lic schools as compared with those of the past. 

In 1856, William T. Major built a fine building in the north part of town, which 
was used for several years as a Female Seminary of the Christian denomination, and was 
a flourishing institution. With praiseworthy liberality this noble man afterward pre- 
sented the whole building and its ample grounds to the Christian denomination, on the 
sole condition of its being managed as a college. The attempt was made ; but from 
some cause, probably because of the rapid increase of such institutions, the college was 
not a success, and it reverted to Mr. Major or his heirs. It would be impossible to 
mention all the worthy schools and seminaries that have done good work in Blooming- 
ton, but we must give all of them much credit for what they have accomplished. At 
present, there are several small private schools. The largest one, the Academy of St. 
Joseph, taught by the Sisters of St. Dominic, under the charge of the Catholic Church, 
is on a permanent basis, as are also the several schools maintained by our Germans 
citizens. 



51 

There are three of these German schools ; one at the corner of West and Front streets, 
and two in the southern part of the city. 

For several years previous to 1857, the public schools had grown to be of con- 
siderable importance, but they were still in their infancy. They formed five different 
school districts within the city limits, containing about three hundred pupils, and the 
schools might be classed as " bad and indifferent," hardly rising to the grade of " good." 
On the 8th day of April, 1857, these districts were all consolidated, and placed in 
charge of the new Board of Education, and from that day the progress of our public 
schools has been rapid and permanent. 

The first charter to establish and regulate a system of public schools in the city of 
Bloomington was granted by the Legislature of the State, February 22, 1857. This 
charter called for a biennial election in the city, by the qualified electors, of a Board of 
Education to consist of seven members. The charter provided for such an election to 
be held on the first Monday in April, A. D. 1857. 

As the result of the election, the following-named gentlemen were declared by the 
City Council to constitute the first Board of the city : C. P. Merriman, R. 0. War- 
riner, 0. T. Beeves, E. R. Roe, Eliel Barber, Samuel Gallagher and Henry Richardson. 
The need of new schoolhouses was from the very first a matter of consideration by the 
Board, and at their meeting held April 11, 1857, it was voted " to build four new 
schoolhouses in different parts of the city, for the accommodation of schools, so soon as 
funds sufficient can be obtained." 

The first estimate of the Board to the City Council called for $10,000, with 
which to erect a new school-building, and $2,000 in addition to the general school fund 
to defray the expenses of maintaining the schools of the city. As a result of the 
request for this estimate, the following communication was sent to the Board by the 
Council : 

Wheeeas, The Board of Education having made a report to this Council, demanding a levy 
of a five-mill tax for school purposes, and it being the opinion of this Council that said levy 
would be a burdensome and oppressive tax upon the people at the present time ; therefore, 
Resolved, That it is our bounden duty to respectfully decline an order for said levy. 

As a result of this, the Board of Education employed Abraham Lincoln to take 
the necessary steps to procure from the Circuit Court a writ of mandamus to compel 
the Council to levy the tax as required of them by Section 8 of the School Law. The 
whole matter seems to have been amicably settled, however, by the Board presentino- a 
memorial to the Council requesting them to reconsider the action. 

In the year 1858, the first permanent school-building was completed, called for 
several years the. High School Building. It is in the Fourth Ward, and its cost was a 
little over $6,000. It was thought to be a fine structure for the times, though enlarged 
considerably in 1870. The high school started in 1857, was taught for the first year in 
Wilkins Seminary, by J. A. Johnson, and it opened in the new building in 1858 
taught by E. P. Clark. The next year, it was under the charge of H. M. Kellogg, who 
met his death in 1864 in one of the Vicksburg battles, at which time he was Captain 
of a company in the Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteers. The progress of the 
high school has ever been onward and upward until the present time. It is now in a 
fine building erected in 1868, at a cost of over $30,000. The first graduatino- class 
consisted of two members in 1864, while that of 1877 contained over thirty. An act 



52 

of the Legislature, accepted by vote of the people in 1865, and another act passed in 
1866, greatly strengthened the Board of Education, and increased the public interest. 

The total enrollment of pupils in the public school in the year 1878 was 3,395. 
The number of children ascertained to be in the whole city in the year 1879, under the 
age of twenty-one years, was 7,187. Number of teachers in the public school, 63. Total 
disbursement for schools for the year ending April 1, 1879, was $65,314. The cost 
of the school-buildings, apparatus, furniture and grounds has been over $228,000, 
worth now, probably, a little more than the present outstanding school debt, which is in 
the neighborhood of $100,000. The pi'esent Board of Education consists of Jacob 
Jacoby, A. E. Stevenson, F. M. Funk, E. H. Rood, T. J. Bunn, J. H. Rowell and 
Miss Georgiana Trotter. Miss Sarah E. Raymond is Superintendent. The first Super- 
intendent was D. Wilkins, 1857 to 1859; in 1859, Gilbert Thayer; in 1860, Ira J. 
Bloomfield ; 1861, no superintendent; 1862, C. P. Merriman ; 1863, J. H. Burnham ; 
1864, John Monroe; 1865 to 1867, John F. Gowdy; 1867 and 1868, A. H. Thomp- 
son ; 1868 to 1872, S. M. Etter ; 1872 to 1874, S. D. Gaylord ; 1874 to the present 
time. Miss Sarah E. Raymond. 

Besides the large school edifices called respectively, First, Third, Fourth, Fifth 
Ward and the High School buildings, there are several of less value in difi"erent places, 
making in all provision for most of the children who need schooling. Bloomington 
expends a very large sum of money for public education, and it behooves her citizens to 
look well to the management of the ample fund annually disbursed. The city stands 
upon record as being one of the first in this State to admit a lady as a member of its 
Board of Education, Miss Georgiana Trotter having been elected four years ago. Miss 
Raymond, the efficient Superintendent of our city schools, was one of the first ladies in 
Illinois to fill such a position. Our churches, our public schools and our higher 
institutions of learning are all well worthy of the pride of our citizens. 

CHURCHES THAT HAVE DISSOLVED. 

There have been almost innumerable attempts made in Bloornington to establish 
churches and religious societies by the different sects represented in the United States. 
People have arrived here from all the regions under the sun, apparently, and, on their 
arrival, have commenced looking around for the religious denomination to which they 
were most attached. It would be, indeed, interesting could we furnish a lull list of the 
difi"erent churches that have attempted to obtain a foot-hold. Even the Mormons have 
been represented, and at one time published a weekly newspaper here, printed at the 
Pantagraph office, edited by Mr. Haldeman, who has since moved to the State of Mis- 
souri. This journal was an organ of the Latter-Day Saints, or sect opposed to the Salt 
Lake Mormons. It is impossible to obtain a full history, even of those churches now 
in existence here, and we do not pretend to anything more than a mere outline or sketch, 
and shall be well satisfied if we have made a few footsteps that shall lead in the direc- 
tion we should like to travel. We will take a little space for mention of churches that 
have been formed and afterward given up their organizations, as these have had a share 
in the great work of Christianizing our community. 

While the Presbyterian Church is the home of the large element known as the 
Orthodox Congregationalists, there was a time when a flourishing church of that denomi- 
nation was in existence. As early as 1842, the Congregationalists had built a church 



53 

at the northwest corner of Washington and Madison streets,,and from that time to 1860, 
were quite powerful in the city. In 1858, they built a new church at the northeast corner 
West and Washington, which, under the pastoral care of Rev. L. Taylor, was very flour- 
ishing. In the hard times followinir, they were unable to pay a mortgage on their property, 
and lost their house of worship, which was purchased in 1885 by the Episcopalians. 

The Congregationalists again re-organized in 1873, worshiped in a public hall, but, 
after two years' trial, again gave up the undertaking. 

For several years, the Reformed Presbyterians owned a church on Front street, 
where is now the residence of Mr. I. R. Krum ; but, owing to the removal from the 
city of quite a large portion of their membership, and for other reasons, their organiza- 
tion disappeared over ten years ago. 

The Universalists had a church-building on Front street, and kept up their society 
for several years, during which quite a number of our most prominent citizens were 
members of the organization. Rev. F. J. Briggs was the minister in charge for some 
time, and is still Uving in Bloomington. Many of its members went into the Free 
Congregational Church, and others have become connected with different churches or 
moved from the city. 

For several years, the Methodists kept up an organized church called the West 
Charge. They had a pleasant house of worship at the southeast corner of Washington 
and West streets. After several years' trial, during a part of which time the Church 
was very flourishing, it was discovered that the interests of the denomination were best 
subserved by only one organization, and the building was sold, to be taken down and 
moved to New Rutland, on the Illinois Central Railroad. 

In the year 1868, there was a church society that worshiped in Phoenix Hall, 
under the charge of Rev. Dr. Reed, a very excellent minister of the Southern Meth- 
odist Church ; but the project of erecting a building was abandoned. 

The first Christian Church was erected on East street, in the rear of Major's 
Hall, and for a time after the present church was erected, there were two Christian 
Churches in the city, both of which appeared quite powerful. About the year 1863, 
however, the two became merged in the present church, and the old one was sold to 
the German Lutherans, and now stands at the corner of Madison and OUve streets. 

Our sketch merely hints at a few of the attempts that have been made to organize 
different churches in Bloomington. In fact, we have no doubt these sectarian efforts 
could be numbered by scores, and, if all were hunted up and catalogued, a very 
interesting chapter would be the result. We have referred to a few in order to bring 
prominently before our readers the fact that strenuous efforts have been made to culti- 
vate the religious field. Of the good seed planted in the past, we are proud to record 
the evidences of the proper maturing of a fair proportion. 

CHURCHES. 

It is impossible to give even a tolerably correct sketch of the different churches of 
this city. In many cases the history of these institutions has not beer\ preserved, and 
in others there have been such changes, suspensions, consolidations, divisions and 
removals that we despair of doing justice to the great subject. We give merely a few 
fragments, beseeching the charity and good-will of all who have ever attempted work of 
this character. The founders of Bloomington left no effort untried to affect favorably 



54 

the morals and religion of this community. From their little means, needed so much 
for daily wants and improvements, they freely gave liberally toward building and sup- 
porting churches. They were inspired with zeal in the cause of the Master, were aided 
by the most active and self-denying ministry, and could see a promise of better days 
when the town should become more fully peopled with families of wealth and culture. 
Each denomination made great efforts for supremacy. All were equally active, and at 
this time we see the good results of the hard labors of the early Christians. 

The pioneer of Christianity in this locality, was, of course, the Methodist Church. 
Mr. John Hendrix, who came to Blooming Grrove in 1822, was a consistent, devoted 
Methodist, and for a long time his house was the preaching-place of the neighborhood. 
It appears he invited Rev. James Stringfield, who was visiting at Randolph Grove, from 
Kentucky, and this gentleman preached the first sermon in the limits of the town 
of Bloomington, in 1823, at Mr. Hendrix's cabin. Some think that Rev. Jesse 
Walker, the regular supply of the Peoria Circuit, should be entitled to the honor of 
preaching the first sermon, he having preached at Mr. Hendrix's house in 1824. Bloom- 
ing Grove was made a preaching-place, in Peoria Mission, as early as 1824, during 
which year, at the house of John Hendrix, the first Methodist class was formed, which 
contained about ten members. This class was the Methodist Church of Blooming 
Grove, for several years. In 1831, preaching was commenced in the then new village 
of Bloomington, at the schoolhouse at the corner of Olive and Main streets, where the 
marble-shop now stands. Rev. William Crissey preached here in November, having 
previously delivered at least one sermon in the limits of Bloomington, which was on the 
9th of October. 1831. There appears to have been a class organized here in Bloom- 
ington about the close of 1831, and until the year 1837, Bloomington and Blooming 
Grrove were two distinct charges, when, under Rev. S. W. D. Chase, they were united. 
The two charges united in building a church at the southeast corner of Olive and Main 
streets, in 1836, when a plain building, 32x44 feet was built, under the charge of Rev. 
Zadoc Hall. Methodism grew and prospered at this location, until the year 1851, when 
the brick church, corner of Washington and East streets, was finished. This was a very 
large church for the times. Thomas Williams was contractor. This was occupied by 
the denomination from that date until 1875. About 1870, it became apparent that this 
building was altogether inadequate for the accommodation of the rapidly-increasing con- 
gregation, and plans were made for the construction of the present church-building. 
On September 29, 1873, the corner-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies, under the 
direction of Bishop Wiley, of St. Louis. In October, 1875, the basement auditorium 
was completed, and appropriate dedication exercises were conducted by prominent minis- 
ters from this and other States, in the presence of an immense congregation. As an 
example of Methodist liberality, $9,000 were raised by subscription in less than two 
hours, at these exercises. This magnificent church-edifice, as it now stands, completed, 
is one of the beauties of Bloomington ; it is a model of architectural symmetry and beauty. 
The main auditorium is a spacious room, easy of access, with seating capacity for 1,250. 
It is handsomely decorated with appropriate designs. The basement auditorium is con- 
veniently arranged, neatly finished and has seating capacity for 700. In addition to 
these, there are classrooms and various other apartments for the accommodation of the 
communicants. The society has recently purchased and placed in position an immense 
organ. It is the largest in the State, outside of Chicago. The total valuation of the 



55 

■church building and lot was estimated, three years ago, at $55,000. The total member- 
ship is something over 800. Its present Pastor is Rev. Mr. McElroy. 

The University Methodist Church was organized October 7, 1867. It worships 
in the chapel of the University — a fine room, with capacity for 800, or with the gal- 
lery, which can be used if needed, an audience of 1,500 can be accommodated. There 
are about 250 church-members. Rev. J. A. Kumler is the Pastor in charge. This 
Church is a great convenience to the lay population in the north part of the city, espe- 
cially to the students of the college. 

The German Methodist Church is well established; is situated on Center street, 
between North and Market. It was organized in 1854, by Dr. J. Schmidt, of Quincy, 111. 
It is one of the earliest of any of the German organizations of Bloomington. Rev. J. 
H. Thomas is Pastor, and there are 110 members. 

The African Methodist Church is on North Center street. It was organized in 
1847, by Rev. P. H. Ward, and contains 100 members. Its first church-edifice was 
built in 1848. and, in 1859, it was removed to the side of the lot and has since been 
used as a parsonage. A new church was built in that year, which was considerably 
enlarged in 1871. Its cost was about $3,000. Rev. C. S. Jacobs is the Pastor in charge. 

The First Presbyterian Church was organized January 26, 1833, by the Rev. Cal- 
vin W. Babbett. Its house of worship was not erected until about 1840, when the 
division between the Old and New Schools occurred. This Church was attached to the Old 
School, though it was not until 1855 that a New- School Church was formally organized. 

The First Church has been the parent of Orthodox Congregationalism and Pres- 
byterianism in Bloomington. At least three different churches have sprung from this 
organization, though only one has become permanent. During the pastorate of the 
Rev. H. R. Price, an addition was made to the old building, and its seating capacity 
increased to about five hundred. When the Old and New Schools were united, a few 
years ago, the First Church took the title to which it was entitled by seniority. For 
many years, it was known as the Old-School Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, and 
was a pioneer in deed and in truth. The Rev. J. B. Thayer is the present Pastor of 
the First Church. 

The First Church, as originally built, was quite small. In 1855, the rapid growth 
of the city made an opening for more churches, and on the 11th of January, 1855, the 
New-School or Second Presbyterian Church was organized, in Major's Hall, corner of 
Front and East streets. This hall was at that time in the third story, since removed, 
and was very large and pleasant. Rev. Alfred Eddy was the Pastor. Here, the con- 
gregation worshiped until about the time the building was used by the State Normal 
University, in the fall of 1857. In 1856, the Church commenced their new house of 
worship, which was finished in 1857. Its total cost has been over $20,000, including 
the recent addition, which has increased its seating capacity to 650. This Church has 
been very fortunate in its Pastors, having had but four different ministers in the course 
of the twenty -four years of its life. Originally of the New School, it has now become 
the Second Presbyterian. This Church possesses a very fair proportion of the educa- 
tion, talent and wealth of the city and may be called established. Its present Pastor is 
the Rev. J. W. Dinsmore. 

The Third Presbyterian, generally called the North Church, was organized Apri' 
26, 1875. Their house of worship is on East Locust street, near Main, and is a very 



56 

comfortable and tasteful building. The value of church property, including buildings 
and grounds, is nearly $10,000. The membership is between seventy and one hundred. 

The Baptist is one of the pioneer churches, having been organized in 1837. About 
this time, their first church-building was erected upon two lots donated by James Allin, 
at the northeast corner of North and West streets ; afterward, moved to Madison between 
Front and Grove, where the church used it several years. In 1857, the large building 
at the corner of Madison and Jefferson, now occupied by the society, was commenced, 
and so far completed as to be used in part in the year 1858. The old church on South 
Madison was sold to the German Turners, who now use it as a hall. The present mem- 
bership of the Baptist Church is about 550, and during its existence, over 1,600 persons 
have been members. The pastors of this church have taken a leading place in the his- 
tory of Bloomington, and one of them. Rev. H. J. Eddy, was Chaplain of the Thirty- 
third Regiment Illinois Volunteers. The membership has always been among our best 
inhabitants, and their zeal and devotion to the cause of their Master have been remark- 
able. At one time this Church maintained two mission Sabbath schools, one of which, 
the West Mission, has now developed into a German Baptist Church, with a settled 
pastor. It is located at 1,302 West Locust street. Rev. Henry Wernicke is the Pastor; 
it contains thirty-three members. The South Mission is on Boone street, between 
Hardin and Fremont, and is sustained by the Baptist Church. The present Pastor of 
the Baptist Church is Rev. 0. B. Stone. This Church assisted in the organization of 
Mount Pisgah Baptist Church (colored), which was started in 1866. Its first Pastor 
was the Rev. Thomas Reasoner. Its place of worship is on South Lee street, where it pos- 
sesses a comfortable church, erected in 1869. Rev. Mr. Harrison is its present Pastor, 
and there are between ninety and one hundred members. 

The Christian Church, comprising the followers of Alexander Campbell, with others 
of similar views, is also a pioneer, having been organized in 1839; and, like its prede- 
cessors, the Baptist and Presbyterian, was organized in the old Foster Seminary on East 
Olive street. Its first house of worship was built in the hard times of 1841, on East 
street, in the rear of Major's Block. William T. Major was its first Pastor. About the 
year 1856, the present Christian Church building, at the corner of West and Jefferson, was 
erected ; and, for a time, there were two vigorous Christian Churches existing in this city. 
Before the year 1864, the two churches were united; the old church was sold to 
the Lutherans ; removed by them to the corner of Olive and Madison ; and the united 
Christian Church has become one of the most powerful in the city. It is one of the 
leading churches of this denomination in the West. It is now under charge of Dr. A. I. 
Hobbs. Olive Mission, corner of South Grove and Vine streets, is in charge of this Church. 
Outside of the city there are two churches of this denomination. Grassy Ridge 
Christian Church, organized 1854, is near the south line of the township, under the 
charge of Rev. Mr. Berry, who also has the care of the church at Shirley. The Grassy 
Ridge Church has about seventy members. Blooming Grove Christian Church has a 
neat building, erected in 1873, at a cost of about $1,300. It is in the Cox and Oren- 
dorfF neighborhood, the true historic center of Bloomington, at the east side of Blooming 
Grove. Its members number about one hundred. 

The Free Congregational Church was organized August 14, 1859. Among its 
first members we find the names of Jesse W. Fell, K. H. Fell, C. Wakefield, E. Bar- 
ber, Robert Thompson, W. Perry, F. K. Phoenix, H. N. Pearse, Jesse Bishop, E. 



57 

M. Prince, C. P. Merriman, John L. Routt, M. Pike, 0. Barnard, Francis Barnard, 
William Rowley and others. These gentlemen were willing to unite in a declaration 
of views which committed the new society to the platform of Liberal Christianity. 
Though not strictly a Unitarian Church, it comes, perhaps, nearer to that denomination 
than any other. The church -building is owned by stockholders in rather a different 
manner from the method which is most common. Rev. Charles Gr. Ames, of Minne- 
apolis, Minn., was the first minister. He was a man of great force and power. He 
has been succeeded generally by able men. Probably about four hundred people attend 
this Church. The church-edifice was erected about the year 1866; it will seat 
nearlyfive hundred persons. Its present Pastor is the Rev. J. S. Thompson. 
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church was organized July 31, 1853. In 1857, a lot was 
purchased at the southeast corner of Prairie and Jefferson streets, and plans were 
adopted for a church, but the financial crisis of that year was the reason for abandoning 
the enterprise and the lot was sold. After worshiping in different halls, the parish 
purchased in 1865, the old Congregational Church, corner of West and Washington. 
In July, 1874, the Vestry purchased the lot at the northwest corner of Jefferson and 
Prairie streets, where, in the year 1876, the present fine structure was erected. The 
building will cost when completed, about $20,000. There are about one hundred and 
sixty communicants of the Church, and the congregation will number about four hun- 
dred. The church is large enough to seat about six hundred persons. 

The German Lutheran (Trinity) Church is at the corner of Olive and Madison. 
About one hundred and twenty-five families — all of them among the most worthy and 
industrious of our citizens — attend upon the ministrations of the Pastor, Rev. E. 
Riedel. A day school has been connected with this Church much of the time since 
its organization in 1858. 

The Swedish Lutheran Church is newly established, having erected its house 
of worship at 804 West Olive street, in the summer of 1877. Its Pastor is the Rev. 
P. J. Brodine. The regular membership is about eighty. The Church was organized 
December 8, 1872. with thirty-eight members. It joined the Augustan Synod in 1873. 

The Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1855 by Father Bernard O'Hara 
It was called Holy Trinity — now the Church of the Immaculate Conception. At first 
it purchased and used the old M. E. Church, corner Olive and Main streets, but it very 
rapidly outgrew its accommodations. 

In 1869, a new building was being erected at the site of the present Cathedral, 
when a gust of wind, nearly equal to a tornado, leveled the structure to the earth. Its 
walls were up and the roof on, and the damage was over $20,000. Undaunted, the 
consregation persevered with the work on a much more expensive plan, and now have 
the satisfaction of worshiping in an elegant building, which, when finished, with its 
208-feet-high spire and everything as designed by the architect, it will be one of the 
most beautiful ornaments of which Bloomington can boast. 

The new cathedral is a magnificent piece of architecture, in the Romanesque style. 
Its dimensions are 213 feet in length and 80 feet in width. The estimated cost, when 
fully completed, is about $150,000, It will be one of the finest cathedrals in all Illi- 
nois. For several years back, the society has occupied the basement auditorium as a 
temporary place of worship, but, within the past year, the outer walls have been com- 
pleted and the roof placed in position, thus inclosing the main audience-room. This is 



58 

a spacious apartment, 213 feet in length, 80 feet in width, and 52 from the floor to the 
ceiling. It is provided with a^ large octagonal chancel and two large galleries. It will 
have ample seating accommodation for 2,500 persons. Father McDermott is in charge 
of the Church. The total number of members of this Church, with their families, is 
not far from six thousand. 

The German Catholic Church was built about the year 1871. It is situated on 
North Water street, which is in the southwest part of the city. W. J. Revis is 
in charge. This is a growing Church. It is known as St. Mary's German Catholic 
Church. 

BLOOMINGTON SABBATH SCHOOLS. 

At the time Bloomington was first settled. Sabbath schools were a new thing all 
over the country. Like the temperance movement, it was not quite clear whether they 
were to be an educational improvement mainly, or to partake of a moral as well as of a 
religious character. The conservatism of the community naturally arrayed itself against 
Sabbath schools, as against everything that was new and novel, and the labors of the 
originators of these institutions were, at times, severe as well as unappreciated. We 
have requested a statement on this subject, which was kindly furnished by that veteran 
in the good cause, Mr. A. C. Washburne : 

" April 8, 1832, I went to the schoolhouse (a log cabin) to attend Sabbath school, 
agreeable to an appointment made by Mr. Latta, a local preacher of the Methodist order. 
But few were present. A question ai'ose as to the manner of conducting the school. 
Previous to this, for a short time, a gentleman of intelligence, but not a professor of 
religion, had met a few children on the Sabbath, and instructed them in reading and 
singing. Some desired a school of a more decided, religious character, while others pre- 
ferred the present arrangement. A meeting was appointed for Monday night to settle 
this question. 

" April 9. Meeting was held, agreeable to notice, and, as a result, I was appointed 
Superintendent, and the entire management of the school placed in my hands. 

" April 15. Commenced a Sabbath school upon strictly religious, but not secta- 
rian, principles. For some months I had no assistance, and the attendance of pupils 
was from twenty to thirty. At length, I obtained the assistance of two young ladies. 
Misses Durley and Kimler, who did efficient work in the school. To show the state of 
society at that time, permit me to say that the employment of these ladies in the school 
caused considerable low gossip in town, although they belonged to respectable families, 
and were of irreproachable character. 

'' I continued this school until the spring of 1833, when, about to visit the East, I 
left it in charge of Mr. McGeoh, a Presbyterian clergyman, who had recently located in 
Bloomington. I returned in the fall of the same year and found the school broken up, 
Mr. McGeoh having died in my absence. Very soon I made arrangements to revive 
the school, and have it meet at our residence, as the most convenient place for the win- 
ter. With the assistance of my wife, we had what was, to me, a very interesting 
school. 

'' When I returned from the East, I brought out a second-hand library, and the 
books were read with avidity. One bright-eyed little girl took a book, and, on return- 
ing it, was asked if she had read it through. She replied, ' yes ; I read it through a 
heap of times.' 



59 

" Tn the spring of 1834, the Rev. L. Foster and wife located in Bloomington, and 
I gave the school into their hands. During the summers of 1834 and 1835, 1 was away 
most of the time. In the spring of 1836, I was again chosen Superintendent, and had 
charge of the school for two years. During this time, the first colored family having 
children of suitable age to attend school, settled in town. I invited them into the 
school, which caused quite a little excitement. I could get no one to teach them, 
therefore I did it myself, giving all the time to them I could spare from other duties 
Prejudice against them was so high that some left the school, but I do not think it sus- 
tained any great loss. 

"In the spring of 1838, a Mr. Barbour was chosen Superintendent. In 1839, 
the Methodists organized a denominational school, which drew large numbers from the 
other, which had up to this time been called a union school, although managed mostly 
by Presbyterians. From this time forward, the old organization took on a denomi- 
national character, and, with slight interruptions, has been continued to the present 
time — 1879 — so that the Sabbath school of the old First Presbyterian Church may right- 
fully claim direct lineal descent from the first Sabbath school organized in Bloomington. 
Thus, from a very small beginning it has grown, I trust, to a healthful, yet ever increas- 
ing, institution for the promotion of religious knowledge. 

" A. C. WASHBURNE." 

From and after this time, or from 1839, all the churches began to establish their 
own Sabbath schools, and the history of each individual church may be assumed to 
include the history of its own Sabbath school without doing much violence to his- 
tory ; hence we shall not pursue the subject. 

CEMETERIES. 

We have stated elsewhere that the first cemetery laid out in the township of Bloom- 
ington, is the one in the Orendorfi" neighborhood, started in the year 1825. This is 
oldest cemetery in the county. 

Shortly after the town, now city, of Bloomington, was established, a cemetery was 
opened on the north side of the ample grounds now known as the Bloomington Cem- 
etery. Here we find that the first burial was that of Mrs. Remington, about the year 
1832. This tract is included within the same inclosure with the Bloomington Cem- 
etery, and contains some land owned by the city and used as a public burying- ground. 
As the town grew and it became evident it would be a place of considerable size, efforts 
were made in 1856 to establish a cemetery on a larger and more appropriate scale, and 
the result proves the good taste, wisdom and judgment of those interested. 

The Bloomington Cemetery Association was organized April 1, 1857. David 
Brier, Esq., was elected President, and L. Graves, Secretary and Treasurer, which posi- 
tion the latter gentleman has ably filled and is filling to the entire satisfaction of all ; 
while the former gentleman held the presidency until he removed from the city, when 
Judge 0. T. Reeves was elect to that position. The Cemetery grounds are located at 
the east end of Fremont street, and contain forty acres, and are sufficiently remote from 
the business center and every-day life as to render the place a fitting abode of the dead. 
The site chosen is a beautiful one. Its rolling ground is pleasing and is interspersed 
with a natural growth of trees and shrubs, making its landscape beauty unsurpassed for 
the purpose designed. It is a beautiful, secluded retreat, well adapted as a sacred spot 



60 

for the reception of the dead, where monuments to their memory are preserved and 
cherished as a solace to the living. Many monuments and other valuable improvements 
are being made, which add beauty to and adorn the grounds, making it really a city 
of the dead. 

The Catholic Cemetery is under the care of the Church. It is situated on West 
Washington street, near the city limits. This Cemetery, like the other, is fast filling up 
with tasteful monuments, which indicate a degree of civilization and culture greatly to 
be commended. 

The Jewish Cemetery was laid out in 1874. It contains one acre of gronnd, near 
city limits, on the Springfield road. The President of the Association is M. Heilbrun, 
who first proposed the idea of a cemetery. 

FRANKLIN PARK. 

Bloomington has reason to be proud of the beautiful square called Franklin Park, 
which is in the northern part of the city. It was donated in 1856, by David Davis, 
W. T. Flagg and William H. Allin, who were owners of the land included in the Dur- 
ley Addition. They presented it to the city to be perpetually used as a public park. 
At that time, there were no residences in its vicinity, and the idea of the public ever 
obtaining any benefit from a park in that desolate region was the theme of much ridi- 
cule on the part of the wits of the time. The rapid growth of the city in its northern 
portion has proved the wisdom and far-sightedness of the donors of Franklin Park. In 
the spring of 1 858, the City Council appropriated money for planting trees, and the 
work was mostly superintended by Milo Chatfield, then Alderman. The trees were 
mere poles, and their wretched appearance again started the flood-gates of ridicule. 
These trees have now become a beautiful forest, and the place begins to be prized by 
our citizens, and will, no doubt, soon be improved with walks, drives, seats, iron fences, 
statues and fountains. 

It can already boast of one of the noblest ornaments of McLean County, the Sol- 
diers' Monument, which was erected by vote of the people of the entire county. The 
vote was taken in 1866, and the monument was dedicated June 17, 1869. In some 
parts of the county, votes were cast against the proposition, on the ground that it was 
supposed the monument was to be placed in the Bloomington Cemetery, but there never 
was any intention of such a location. 

The monument was designed and built by J. S. Haldeman, of this city. The 
following is a detailed sketch of its size and general appearance : The lower base is 
built of Lemont limestone, thirteen feet in diameter ; the marble base on the top of 
this is finished with a heavy carved molding, on which stand four octagonal disks, in 
the shape of a cross. On these disks are the names of about seven hundred soldiers 
that died in the service. On the top of these disks is an elaborately molded cap, with 
the inscription, " McLean County's Honored Sons ; Fallen, But Not Forgotten," 
engraved in large letters. On this cap, and directly over each of the four disks, stands 
a statue of a soldier, representing first. Infantry, second. Cavalry, third, Zouave, fourth, 
Marine. These statues surround a large octagonal disk, with heavy relief covering. 
On the four corners there are flags, accoutrements, etc. Above this disk is a second 
disk surrounded with a finely-carved festoon of laurel. From this disk starts the main 
shaft, which is eighteen feet high, tapering gradually to the top, and surmounted with a 



4M«-> 




SOLDIERS MONUMENT 



BLOOHUNGTON 



61 

cap and a life-size figure of a colonel resting on his sword, holding in his right hand a 
field-glass, and facing the south. The whole height of the monument is forty-nine feet 
from the ground to the top of the colonel's head. It cost $15,000. 

RAILROADS. 

We have already alluded to the fact, that Bloomington was a center of the pro- 
jected railroad system of the Internal Improvement scheme of 1836. The Illinois Cen- 
tral, as then proposed, might pass a good way to the east, or a long distance to the west 
of our city, but men like A. Gridley, Jesse W. Fell, David Davis, J. E. McClun, and 
others were watching the project, determined that the line should touch Bloomington, 
if they could have influence. Circumstances favored Gen Gridley, who was in the State 
Senate in 1851, and he secured the line where Bloomington most wished it to be located. 

Our citizens began to feel, in 1850, when legislation and the progress of railroading 
made it probable the road might be built in a few years, that it was vitally important to 
obtain the line. The Senatorial contest in this district, in the fall of 1850, was hotly 
contested between A. Gridley and John W. Ewing — the former a Whig, and the latter 
a Democrat. Both men were in favor of Bloomington's becoming a point on the road, 
though the respective political parties affected to doubt the soundness of each other's 
candidates. Mr. Gridley was elected from the counties of McLean, Tazewell, Logan, 
Macon and DeWitt, by 249 majority. During the session of the Legislature of 1850 
and 1851, the Illinois Central charter was passed. The only points located in the 
charter are the termini, and a point not far from the southeast corner of Blooming- 
ton Township. After a severe contest with rival routes, Mr. Gridley secured the inser- 
tion of this one intermediate point, which gave Decatur, Clinton and Bloomington the 
road with little further trouble. 

We copy from the Wester7i Intelligencer a letter of great interest : 

Senate Chamber, February 6, 1851. 

The Senate, this moment, by a vote of 23 to 2, has passed the Central Railroad bill. The 
only point made on the Central road, between the southern terminus of the canal and Cairo is, 
that the road shall be constructed within five miles of the northeast corner of Township 21 north, 
Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian. This provision secures the road to Bloomington, 
Clinton and Decatur beyond all question, and secures the construction of the great Central road 
through the three counties of McLean, DeWitt and Macon. The great difficulty has been in 
determining the points to which the road should be constructed ; and inasmuch as there has 
been but one point fixed in the whole State (except the termini as fixed by the act of Congress), 
I think the citizens of said counties are fortunate that by the provisions of this bill this great 
roail is secured to them. 

By reference to the map, as the road will not go east of t,he northeast corner of Town 21, 
Range 2 east, you will see that Bloomington is in a direct line from four miles west of said 
northeast corner to La Salle, or the termination of the canal, \vhich secures the road to Bloom- 
ington. 

The Legislature will adjourn on Monday, the 17th. I am also of opinion that the bill 
(which some days since passed the Senate) extending the charter of the Alton & Sangamon Rail- 
road Company to Bloomington, will pass the House and become a law ; in which event I am 
assured by the agent of the Company, that the road will be constructed and completed in two 
years. I take this earliest opportunity to advise you, and through you to advise my fellow-cit- 
izens of McLean and other counties of the Eleventh Senatorial District, of the progress of the 
Legislature upon the subject of railroads, well knowing their deep and abiding anxiety therein. 
Trusting that my feeble efforts in their behalf may meet their approbation, I am, 

Very respectfully your obedient servant, A. GRIDLEY. 



62 

When the engineers came to locate the line of the Illinois Central, a public meet- 
ing was held, offering the right of way to the company providing a certain line was 
adopted, it being almost the exact route which was afterward followed. There was a 
plan to take the road about three miles east of Bloomington, but it was defeated. The 
line was located as it was built and its building commenced in 1851. During the year 
1852, work was goins on along in this portion of the State, and, it being the first rail- 
road ever built here, it of course attracted a great deal of attention. At one time, there 
was a scheme for locating the railroad-shops here, but for the reason that the company 
itself did not own land enough at this point to reap a harvest from the sale of town 
lots, it preferred to build a town of its own at Wapella. The cars ran from La Salle 
to Bloomington May 23, 1853. It is stated by those who were living at the time, that 
no event has ever created such profound excitement as did the arrival of the first rail- 
road train from La Salle on the Illinois Central Railroad. Bloomington and the sur- 
rounding country turned out en masse, waiting at the depot for the new-fangled machine 
that dispensed with the aid of horses. There were large numbers present who had 
never seen an engine before, and to all, even those to whom it was no novelty, the event 
was one of the deepest significance. Bloomington, after nearly twenty years of watch- 
ing, working and waiting, had now a railroad, and was about to enter upon an active 
career. To the minds of all who were present on that occasion, it was the dawning of 
a new era of prosperity for our city, and the result of twenty-six years of railroad 
advantages is sufficient proof that the spectators of that event were correct in their 
anticipations. 

About this time — 1850 to 1853 — several other railroad projects were before our 
people. One was the " Peoria, Bloomington & La Fayette" and another the "Bloom- 
ington & Wabash Valley." The former really became the Peoria & Logansport 
through El Paso and Chenoa, after Bloomington people had been rather tricked out of 
the line by the actions of Peoria. The names of the gentlemen who were mentioned 
in the act of incorporation of the " Bloomington & Wabash Valley " road are given 
below, and we insert as a remark of our own, that the most of these same men have 
been found aiding every road that Bloomington possesses to-day : David Davis, John 
Moore, Isaac Funk, John E. McClun, James Miller, Jesse W. Fell, A. Gridley, K. 
H. Fell, E. H. Didlake, J. H. Robinson, R. 0. Warriner, A. Withers, John W. Ewing, 
W. F. Flagg, W. H. Temple, W. H. Holmes and W. T. Major. 

These two roads mentioned, however, have substantially been secured by the 
Indianapolis and La Fayette routes, which have lately been built on nearly the same 
lines as were projected in these early times. These years — 1850 to 1853 — were fruit- 
ful in "projects" for railroads, and, in fact, fruitful in results. October 15, 1853, by 
a vote of 340 to 5, the city of Bloomington voted to take stock to the amount of 
$50,000 in the " Bloomington & Wabash" road, but for some reason the project failed 
at that time, to be revived again under another charter at a later date. Its line has 
since been occupied substantially, by the present Indianapolis & Bloomington road, 
whose later history is given below. 

The "Alton & Sangamon," or ••Chicago & Mississippi" Railroad, alluded to by 
Gen, Gridley above, succeeded in getting its charter extended to Bloomington, and 
very soon our citizens began to hear of the location of the Springfield & Bloomington 
Railroad. Surveys were made, the line put under contract, and in due course of time 



68 

— October 16, 1853 — the cars were running from Springfield to Bloomington. For 
several months, trains connected with the Illinois Central at the Junction which is now 
Normal, and passengers from Springfield could reach Chicago via Bloomington and 
La Salle. At that time, the line which is now the Chicago & Alton, advertised in a 
Bloomington paper to take passengers to New York in "only sixty hours." 

This new road came quietly, compared with the Illinois Central ; the latter had 
been talked of ever since 1836, and the former was comparatively unknown to the gen- 
eral public until its contractors were at work all along the line. When it arrived, it 
almost took the town by surprise. As the road reached Bloomington late in the fall, it 
was not able to finish its northern end until the following summer ; and the Joliet & Bloom- 
ington Extension — as it was called — was ready for use during the summer of 1854. 
The portion nearest Bloomington was built first, and was so far along that an excursion- 
train ran to Lexington on the 4th of July, 1854. The Joliet & Chicago Railroad had 
been built previously, and we believe the Chicago & Alton Railroad, from Chicago to 
East St. Louis, has been built under at least five diiferent charters, each authorizing 
only a portion of the present line. 

When the Illinois Central depot was located at the eastern side of town, the idea 
of locating the other at or outside of the western edge was advocated by Jesse Fell and 
others, and though not popular at first, it was soon thought that if the two depots 
were thus situated, the town would be spread out wide and in the end might be 
benefited. 

By donations of land and assistance in other ways, these gentlemen also secured 
the building of the railroad machine-shops in 1852 and 1853, which, in the end, have 
become so highly important to the prosperity of Bloomington, which owes a debt of 
gratitude to these far-seeing gentlemen. The location of the shops made Bloomington 
a convenient point for the starting of the Jacksonville branch in 1867, and then the 
building of this branch made it comparatively easy for Bloomington to obtain the 
rebuilding of the machine-shops after the fire in 1867, when, but for the fact of the 
junction here, we should have been compelled to pay much more than $55,000 in com- 
petition with Chicago, Lincoln, Springfield and Joliet. When the Jacksonville branch 
was built in 1867, Bloomington was obliged to vote $75,000 in aid, which was given, 
half by the city and the balance by the township of Bloomington. Nearly three hun- 
dred votes were cast against this proposition, but the majority in its favor was several 
hundred, our voters seeing so plainly the advantages of the road that they did not dare 
risk its loss by an adverse vote. It is almost certain that the line would have run 
directly north from Delavan to Washington, had Bloomington and the towns interven- 
ing voted the project down. 

It had now become the ambition of Bloomington to be a great railroad center, and 
it needed no argument to convince the public in 1867, that our interests would be sub- 
served by building any road that might be projected. The plan for a railroad from 
Pekin through Bloomington, Le Hoy, Urbana and Danville, had been proposed as early 
as 1836, and at about that time twelve miles were graded east from Pekin. This was a 
failure, owing to the crash that involved all these enterprises before 1840, and the pro- 
ject was nearly dormant until 1866, though it was revived in 1854, and again in 1856, 
a meeting having been held January 24, 1856, at Mackinaw, to aid the matter, and 
another a little later, on the east end of the line, which was then called the Danville & 



64 

Bloomington Railroad. A charter in aid of the east and west line was obtained Feb- 
ruary 11, 1857, and during the year, meetings were held at various places between 
Pekin and Danville. A proposition to grant $100,000 from the proceeds of alternate 
sections of McLean County's swamp-land, was voted down in this county November 5, 
1857, the vote standing 1,570 opposed and 1,166 in favor. The crisis of 1857, no 
doubt affected the whole project unfavorably, as we find nothing definite was 
accomplished until after the beginning of 1866. During that year, a meet- 
ing was held at Urbana, another, a little later, in Bloomington, and others 
at Le Roy, where, August 27, 1866, an organization was effected, and the work was 
pushed ahead, though Bloomington did not vote in aid of the plan until the spring of 
1867, when, at a special election, a vote was taken on the question of giving $100,000 
in township bonds to this line and as much to the La Fayette, Bloomington & Missis- 
sippi Railroad. Both propositions were carried with less than a doztm votes opposed. 
There never was any opposition to this road, or to the other. Every one saw plainly the 
value of both lines ; but while it was doubtful which line might be first voted upon, 
there was a little danger that the jealousy existing between the special friends of each 
might endanger both. Dr. E. Conkling is entitled to a good deal of credit for assisting 
this enterprise, aided by such men as Judge McClun, J. W. Fell, A. Gridley and others, 
who have always favored ever}- railroad. The vote to issue bonds to the amount of 
$100,000 in aid of the La Fayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad, and an equal 
amount to the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western, then called the Danville, Urbana, 
Pekin & Bloomington Railroad, was taken at a special town meeting, June 3, 1867, and 
resulted in a vote of 90-1 for and 6 against the former road, and 913 for and 6 against 
the last-named route. 

The unanimity of this vote is sufficient proof of the state of public sentiment at 
that time ; though now we are paying the cost of these improvements, some feel as if they 
are too expensive. Still, were the vote taken over again to-day, there is no doubt a 
good majority would favor the same projects that were voted on June 3, 1867. 

The La Fayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad, running directly east is a 
favorite line. It was built between 1869 and 1872, and is the result of the energy and 
" push" of A. Gridley, A. B. Ives, J. H. Cheney, J. E. McClun, 0. T. Reeves, Charles 
M. Holder, and a few others. These gentlemen labored incessantly to secure the road, 
and at one time its success was so doubtful that probably had either one of them ceased 
his efforts, the road would not have been finished. It runs from Bloomington to La 
Fayette, Ind., where it connects with the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad, 
and affords the shortest line from Bloomington to Buffalo and Eastern points. Its 
grades are easy, and it is rarely obstructed by snow. The original company is now 
dissolved, and the line is operated by a Receiver. Its Treasurer is Mr. J. H. Cheney, of 
this city, who represents Bloomington's interests in this line, or, rather, is the only 
official of the road who is a Bloomingtonian. 

The Indianapolis & Bloomington road was finished May 1, 1870, and the La 
Fayette road in 1872 ; giving our city railroad routes diverging in eight different 
directions, like the spokes of a wheel from the hub, and enabling our merchants to ship 
goods at as favorable rates as competing cities. A retrospective story of what has been 
accomplished since just after the "deep snow " in 1831 — the Commissioners located a 
county seat at " the north end of the Blooming Grove" — would read like a fable, did we 



65 

-not have the evidence of men still living who have seen all these wonderful changes as 
'they have occurred from year to year. Blooming Grove — from having been a desolate 
wilderness in 1821, unknown save to bands of predatory Indians, whose trails crossed 
each other at this point, has become an educational, a moral and religious, a commercial 
and a great railroad center. In the natural course of events, more schools and colleges 
will center here ; more commercial and manufacturing enterprises will have their head- 
({uarters at this city, and other railroads will center here or connect with our present 
•roads in such a manner as to become practically Bloomington roads. During the year 
1878, the Chicago & Alton Railroad has built an extension from Mexico, Mo., 162 
miles, to Kansas City, which will add immensely to the business of the line, of which 
Bloomington will reap many solid advantages through its machine-shops, whose capacity 
will thereby be still further developed. 

In the near future, Bloomington may see a railroad running northeast, to intercept 
the Illinois Central's new line at Chatsworth, a northwestern line to connect Washington 
and Peoria with Bloomington, and a line to the southeast to connect with the Bantoul 
narrow-gauge road. Other roads now unprojected will yet center here. May our 
citizens, in the future as in the past, lend a helping hand to whatever, when well con- 
sidered by our ablest citizens, promises to advance our best interests. 

OUR TELEGRAPHS. 

In August, 1853, Hon. John D. Caton, the pioneer of the Western Union Tele- 
graph Lines, came to this city. He told Gen. Gridley that if Bloomington would take 
$1,000 of stock his company would give our city a telegraph office on the line then 
building from Chicago to Springfield. It does not appear to have occurred to our citi- 
zens that the telegraph business of the place would of itself justify the company in 
keeping an office open, and so they took hold with their usual energy and subscribed the 
amount. As a part of the history of the telegraph, we give the list of subscribers : 

C. P. Merriman,$100 ; W. H. Allin, $50 ; A. Gridley, $50; E. M. Wells, |50 ; H. H. Painter^ 
$50 ; George Parke, $50 ; W. F. Flagg, .$50 ; J. W. Ewing, $50 ; J. W. Underwood & Co., $50 ; 
Wakefield & Thompson, $50 ; Baker & Noble, $50 ; Paist & Elder, $50 ; K. H. Fell, $50; John 
T. O'Brien, $50 ; Graves, Storey & Co., $50 ; G. B. Larrison and A. C. Washburn e, $50 ; Magoun, 
Miller & Co., $50 ; Ives & Curtis, $50; Wickizer, Swett and Mason, $50. 

The poles were soon here, the wire was in place, and on the 24th of January, 1854, 
an office was opened in Bloomington. The files of the Pantagraph show that paper's 
first message, which was from the Illinois Journal office at Springfield, as follows : 

Springfield, January 28, 1854. 
C. P. Merriman : May the new communication by telegraph, so auspiciously opened, con- 
tinue for ages. S. Francis. 

Matthew L. Steele was the first telegraph operator at the Bloomington office, which 
was opened, in 1854, in what was known as Major's Block, on Front Street. He was 
followed in 1866, by Arthur T. McElhiney, who is the present manager of the Bloom- 
ington office, thus making a quarter of a century with only two diflPerent officials in 
charge of what is a very important office. The Pantagraph and Coal Company possess 
a local-line from Bloomington to Normal, to the coal-shaft, and to various points, 
making nine miles of wire, upon which there are, at least, thirty private instruments 
and a number of telephones. 



66 

There are important offices at the headquarters of the C. & A. R. R. Company, at 
its shops in Bloomington, where a large force of operators constantly direct the running 
of trains, while the other railroads have one or more telegraphers constantly on duty ; 
so that, in all, twenty operators are employed in this city, on regular salaries, not to men- 
tion those who use the wire as an incident of their daily business, as is the case with 
the patrons of the Pantacjra'ph and Coal Company's line, as well as several of the other 
patrons of the different lines, who have instruments of their own. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The Bloomington Observer (weekly ) was the first newspaper published in Bloom- 
ington or in the county, and was established January 14, 1837, by Messrs. James 
Allin, Jesse W. Fell and A. Gridley, and was edited by William Hill, afterward, for a 
short time, by Mr. Fell. In 1838, the Observer espoused the side of the Whig party" 
in politics. The name was changed, not long afterward, to the Westei-n Whig, and it 
was conducted by Charles P. Merriman. In 1852, the name was again changed to the 
Bloomington Intelligencer , the paper again passing under the management of Mr. Jesse 
Fell, who sold out in a year or two after, to Mr. Charles P. Merriman, and the sheet was 
baptized anew as the Pantagraph. The Daily Pantagrapli was started June 19,. 
1854. It was sold, in 1856, by him to William E. Foote, who published it until 
1861, E. J. Lewis being the editor. It is now owned and published by William 0. 
Davis. 

This paper has become well established, being one of the best known in the West. 
The peculiarity of its name has attracted much attention, many critics and scholars 
appearing to confound it with the word " pentagraph," which is thus defined by Web- 
ster : " Pentagraph, see pantagraph." Under head of " pantagraph," he says, " a math- 
ematical instrument for copying ; written, also, jjajftoyrapA, and, less correctly, ^ento- 
graphy Mr. Charles P. Merriman, a fine Greek scholar, gives the following as the 
meaning of the word ; and as his explanation is satisfactory to the best classical stu- 
dents, we insert it here, in hope it will thus go into permanent history, and set the ques- 
tion at rest. Mr. Merriman was the originator of the word, as well as the founder of 
the Pantagraph: 

" ' Panta ' is the neuter accusative plural of the Greek adjunct ■p)'^^, and ' graph ' 
is from the Greek verb grapho, here used in the imperative mode ; the name ' Panta- 
graph ' — write all things — is a perpetual injunction upon its editors to dip their pens 
fearlessly into all matters of human interest." 

Other journals have been established at various times and flourished for a brief 
period, to give place, in turn, to others ; but none of them have survived any length of 
time. Among them may be mentioned the Evening Argus, National Flag, afterward 
the Illinois Statesman, Illinois Central Democrat, Bloomington Times, Anti- Monopolist, 
McLean County Democrat, Bloomington Republican, Illinois Schoolmaster, the 
Advance, and others of less repute. 

The fire of editorial controversy, it may be assumed, waxed high at times, as we 
find in an old number of the Intelligencer a brief item, to the effect that an article had 
appeared in the Flag containing a long array of abusive epithets against the editor of 
the former sheet, of which " dastardly whelp," " scoundrel," etc., were a great deal the 
mildest. " This, of course, brought on a personal encounter," continues the " responsible ' ' 



67 

editor, but adds the gratifying fact that " we were separated before either of us 
received an injury." 

The history of the ups and downs of newspaper life received an addition in the sudden 
demise of the Bloomington Times, which came to an untimely end at the hands of the 
Ninety-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, a McLean County regiment. The paper 
had become obnoxious to so many of the citizens, by reason of its Southern proclivities 
and expressions of sympathy for the States in rebellion, and the excitement became so 
great as to lead the soldiers, abetted by prominent citizens, to destroy the office and 
press, since when the paper has not been revived. 

There are now two daily papers, the Morning Pantagraph and the Evening Leader. 
The Weekly Leader was started by Scibird & Waters, November 15, 1868, and the 
Daily, February 22, 1870, and is now owned by M. S. Leland, publisher. Beside 
these, the city can boast several weekly papers — the Democratic News, Sunday Eye 
and the Banner of Holiiiess. The Bloomington Journal (German) was founded by F. 
A. Schmidt ; present proprietor, H. Meyer. It is a paper of much influence, as is 
also the McLean County Deutsche Presse, of which John Koester is editor and pro- 
prietor. 

THE BLOOMINGTON LIBRARY. 

The institution now known as the Bloomington Library Association is one of the 
most deserving in the city. It has become endeared to the public by the great work it 
has accomplished, by its valuable collection of books, and by its promise of future bene- 
fit to posterity. Its early history is of much interest. The first trace discovered is a 
well-written communication in the Pantagraph of May 21, 1854, signed G. L. K., urging 
the formation of a library and reading-room. Bloomington's halcyon days were in 
1854. At that time, it boasted 4,000 inhabitants, 12 churches, and seats in them for 
nearly the total population. Possibly, this was more of a boast than a reality, but as 
our city has grown, our church accommodations have not kept pace, though in the mat- 
ter of seat-room in the public schools, we have reversed the situation compared with 
twenty-five years ago. But we merely wished to remark that those who were at the 
helm in 1854 to 1858 planned largely for the public good. They built churches, they 
reformed our public schools, they endowed or founded colleges, and they did not forget 
the need of a public library. We are reaping the harvest from the good seed then sown, 
and in no one department were the early laborers more faithful than in that now under 
consideration. The need of a library, and the condition of public opinion in relation 
thereto, stimulated the ladies of our city to make an eftbrt, which has resulted in the 
foundation of our Bloomington Library. Among those particularly worthy of mention 
are Miss Rebecca A. Rogers, now Mrs. G. W. Parke, and Miss Hannah M. Snow. 
The ladies obtained quite a number of subscriptions from persons who were willing to 
assist, and, on the 2d of October, 1856, a public meeting was called at Major's Hall, 
for the purpose of organizing the " Ladies Library." At this meeting, which was well 
attended, the ladies reported subscriptions to the amount of $417. A committee was 
appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws, to report at a future meeting. This com- 
mittee was Rev. F. N. Ewiug, Dr. W. C. Hobbs, David Davis, W. H. Allin and John 
E. McClun. After one or two preliminary meetings, the permanent organization of the 
" Ladies' Library Association, of the City of Bloomington," was efi'ected at the First Pres- 
byterian Church November 13, 1856. 



68 

The ladies alone were eligible to office during the first six or eight years. The 
first officers were : President, Mrs. S. B. Brown ; Vice President, Miss A. Warriner ; 
Secretary, Miss Caldwell ; Corresponding Secretary, Miss H. Parsons ; Treasurer, Miss 
Rebecca A. Rogers ; Librarian, Miss Hannah M. Snow. The first Board of Managers 
was composed of the following ladies : Mrs. D. Davis, Mrs. F. N. Ewing, Mrs. T. Pardee, 
Mrs. H. Spencer and Mrs. W. H. Allin. 

On the 28th of February, 1857, the Library was opened in a room on Center street. 
At the next meeting. Judge Davis offered a room on Main street free of rent, which 
offer was very thankfully accepted. The Library remained in this room for six or seven 
years, rent free, and, during all this time, it was taken care of and fostered by the 
ladies with a zeal and enthusiasm that gained it a high positisn among the worthy 
institutions of Bloomington. Its growth was gradual but sure. The catalogue from 
the beo-innino- has always exhibited a large selection of valuable books, and it has been 
one of the educational institutions of our city. 

In the year 1867, it was thought best to organize under an act of the Legislature, 
which was obtained February 23, 1867. The Library changed its name to the " Bloom- 
ino'ton Library Association," and gentlemen were made eligible to office, but its main 
features were unchanged. By the act of incorporation, the Association is able to own 
real estate, manage an endowment fund, to go onward and forward in the good cause, 
and take such rank and position as the public or its wealthy members may in the future 
see fit to award. Probably the time will come when this Association will possess a per- 
manent building of its own, and an endowment fund which will render it self-sustaining. 
The first officers under the new organization were elected March 2, 1867. David 
Davis was President ; E. M. Prince, Vice President ; Sarah D. Robinson, Recording 
Secretary: W. H. Stennett, Corresponding Secretary, and W, M. Hatch, Treasurer. 
The Board of Managers were composed of ladies and gentlemen as follows : Mrs. 
Maria Everly, B. F. Hoopes, I. J. Bloomfield and Mrs. J. A. Jackman. The Trustees 
were John Magoun, George W. Parke and John M. Scott. 

The Library has always been one of Bloomington's favorite institutions, and it has 
now become very valuable. 

The last report of the Librarian, presented at the annual meeting on the 1st day 
of March, 1879, shows that there are in the Library 7,464 volumes. During the year, 
books were used equal to taking out 26,000 different volumes. The Reading-room has 
been well patronized, giving the public access to about 150 periodicals. This evidences 
the great value of the Library and Reading-room, and its managers should go forward 
in the ^^ood work, trusting to the future for further additions and the permanent endow- 
ment so earnestly desired. The present officers are : Dr. C. R. Parke, President ; Dr. 
H. Conkling, Vice President; B. F. Hoopes, Treasurer; Charles L. Capen, Corre- 
sponding Secretary; Lewis E. Ijams, Recording Secretary; Mrs. H. R. Gralliner, 
Librarian. The Board of Managers consists of Mrs. Charles Shackleford, Miss Sarah 
E. Raymond, Messrs. Peter Folsom, S. R. Brodix and J. H. Burnham. 

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY. 

In the year 1850, a number of the leading citizens of Bloomington began to 
ao-itate the question of founding a university complete in all its departments. Illinois 
was plainly growing in importance and no portion advancing more rapidly in all the 



69 

elements of strength, nor developing more steadily its material resources, than the central 
part of the State ; hence the citizens of this city were anxious and determined that 
here, educational advantages should be of the first order. To accomplish this end, the 
first Board of Trustees effected an organization under the general laws of the State on 
the 2d of December, A. D. 1850. 

It was decided that the University should be placed under the management of the 
Methodist Church. This was not done for the purpose of making it a sectarian institu- 
tion, since science can never be rendered sectarian, but it was felt that the University 
should be placed in careful hands and under good management, and since the Methodist 
Church was then, as now, noted for its earnestness in the advancement of all the 
interests of education as well as for careful management and influence, to its care the 




WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY. 



new University was confided. It was intended that its influence should be of a 
Christian character, but that students of all denominations should find a home within 
its halls. This idea has been faithfully carried out. In the winter of 1850 and 1851, 
the school was organized under the superintendency of Rev. R. Andrus, A. M., in the 
basement of the Methodist Church. 

Immediate measures were taken for the erection of a suitable building, which, 
after many discouragements, was completed and school opened in it in 1857. In July, 
1851, at the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, Rev. John Dempster, D.D., of 
Concord, N. H., was elected President. The first Annual Commencement was held on 
the 7th of July, 1853, and the first class graduated. 



70 

Rev. John Dempster having removed to Evanston, Rev. C. W. Sears, a former 
professor in the institution, was chosen President and a part of the new building occu- 
pied ; but, shortly afterward, owing to the uncertain condition of State finances and the 
stringency of the times, the institution was for a time closed. Its friends, however, 
did not despair, and, after securing the services of Rev. Charles W. C. Munsell as 
financial agent, at once set about raising the necessary funds to complete the building, 
liquidate the debt and re-open the school. 

The institution was re-opened by the Trustees, who elected Rev. 0. S. Munsell, 
A. M., as President. In the year 1866, the Methodist Church in America celebrated 
its first centennial anniversary, and including the amount of $10,000 given by the 
family of Isaac Funk as the first installment for the endowment of the Isaac Funk 
Professorfehip of Agriculture, the friends of the University subscribed over $70,000 for 
endowment. The steady increase of students now made a second building necessary, 
and the Trustees proceeded at once to obtain subscriptions and erect an appropriate 
building, and, as a result of these labors, a fine building was erected, which is capable 
of accommodating 500 students. 

This structure was so far completed, that graduating exercises were held here in 
June, 1872, though it was not occupied by the classes for daily recitation till the spring 
of 1873. The upper portion of this building is not yet fully finished, nor has the entire 
cost of the University building been met, there being a debt upon the same which the 
Board of Trustees will doubtless soon attempt to li(]uidate. 

The new college building is beautifully located in the northern portion of the city, 
surrounded by an area of nearly ten acres of luxuriant greensward, dotted here and 
there with clumps of forest and ornamental trees, making all in all a most picturesque 
efi"ect. The main building is a splendid example of architectural beauty and symmetry, 
of imposing dimensions, 70x140 feet, five stories in height, and erected at a cost of nearly 
$70,000. It is pronounced by competent authority as unsurpassed by any similar struct- 
ure in this State in point of external elegance and internal convenience. It is the finest 
looking building in Bloomington. The first floor is divided into eight large recitation- 
rooms, arranged and furnished after the usual style of such apartments. The second 
floor is occupied by the library, which contains a large and carefully selected list of val- 
uable volumes. This apartment is also used as a recitation-room. The museum contains 
a varied and interesting collection of specimens of minerals, insects, birds, reptiles, etc. 
Rare and valuable additions are constantly being made to the already extensive list. The 
entire eastern half of the second and third floors is occupied by Amie Chapel. This is 
so arranged that it may be converted into one of the largest auditoriums in the city, by 
removing a temporary partition, thus throwing open the galleries, giving a seating capac- 
ity of 1,200. Regular Sabbath services are conducted in this chapel by the University 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The halls of the Munsellian and Belle Lettres Literary 
Societies occupy the third floors. The halls are equal in size and similarly furnished, 
in a neat and appropriate manner ; their walls are hung with pictures of society mem- 
bers, the Faculty, graduates, etc. The fourth floor and basement are as yet unfinished. 
The old college, which stands just north of the main building, is brought into requisi- 
tion as a boarding-hall for young men, with accommodations for forty. The commo- 
dious old Major College building, further west, has been rented, remodeled and furnished 
for a dormitory and dining-hall for the accommodation of young lady students. This 



71 

institution is prosperous under the care of the Women's Educational Association, which 
is working in harmony with the University. 

In 1873, Rev. 0. S. Munsell having resigned, Rev. Samuel Fallows, D. D.. was 
elected President and entered upon the discharge of his duties in January, 1874. 

The Trustees now added a Law Department and elected a Law Faculty, which 
entered immediately upon their duties, and, at the Annual Commencement of 1875 was 
graduated the first class in the department of law. 

At the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees in 1874, they adopted the plans 
similar to the London University of Non-resident Students and Post-Graduate Exam- 
inations which had, during the year, been matured by the Faculty and were now for the 
first time laid before the Board for adoption. 




MAJOR COLLEGE. 



The announcing of a definite course of study in both undergraduate and post- 
graduate work for non-resident students, publishing of plans for examinations, and hold- 
ing examinations and conferring degrees only on examinations, mark an era in the 
history of the University in advance of all other universities of the West. The appre- 
ciation of the plan has been shown by che increasing numbers of gentlemen eminent in 
scholarship and literary reputation, who annually avail themselves of the opportunity 
thus oflfered, and, after a thorough examination, have received from the University the 
highest honors known to any university on this continent. The year of 1870 was ren- 
dered memorable on account of the admission of women. The question, after some dis- 
cussion, passed in the Faculty. The resolution to open the doors to ladies passed the 
Board of Trustees, and was seconded by the patronizing Conferences, so that during the 



72 

first college term of the same year a large number enrolled their names and entered the 
several classes. The number has steadily increased and now many women are num- 
bered among the graduates at the Annual Commencements. 

LITERARY SOCIETIES. 

Three literary societies have, since their first organization, been well attended, and 
have each attained a good reputation for oratory and elocution. These societies, at a 
cost of some $4,000, have fitted up and furnished their halls with the finest carpets and. 
appropriate furniture. 

COURSES OF STUDY. 

Two courses of study are pursued — the classical and scientific. These require after 
entering the college the same length of time for completion, namely, four years. 

In 1875, after the resignation of Rev. Samuel Fallows, D. D., the Board of Trust- 
ees called to the chair of the presidency. Rev. W. H. H. Adams, D. D. 

During the year 1874, a society was organized and chartered by the women, under 
the name of the Women's Educational Association of the Wesleyan University. The 
object is to aid young women striving for an education, and second, to endow a chair of 
the same name in the University. The results of this organization are the opening of a 
commodious hall on the Mt. Holyoke plan, and the securing of a considerable amount 
for endowment. During the year 1875, a gift of $10,000 was made by Hugh Meharry,. 
Esq., of Indiana, to apply on the endowment of the President's chair. 

The growth of the University has been steady, and now its halls are crowded with- 
students, and its honors sought by numbers of the first scholars of the land, whilst the- 
boundless resources of Central Illinois and the growing liberality of a generous and 
wealthy people afi"ord great promise for the future that the growing wants of the Uni- 
versity will receive ample aid ; and, on the broad foundation which has been wisely laid,, 
will be built up and sustained a university of the highest standing in all the depart- 
ments of art and science. 

At this time, the Illinois Wesleyan University has, in its several departments^ 
the following Faculty : 

LITERARY DEPARTMENT. 

W. H. H. Adams, D. D., President and Professor of Ethics and Metaphysics. 

H. C. DeMotte, Ph. D., Vice President and Professor of Mathematics. 

G. R. Crow, A. M., Professor of Latin Language and Literature. 

J. B. Taylor, A. M., Professor of Natural Science and German. 

Sue M. D. Fry, A. M., Professor of English Language. 

R. R. Brown, A. M., Professor of Natural History and Physics. 

S. Van Pelt, A. M., Professor of Elocution. 

C. M. Moss, A. M., Professor of Greek and Hebrew. 

COLLEGE OF L \W. 

R. M. Benjamin, A. M., Dean, Elementary Law. 

0. T. Reeves, LL. D. , Torts and Equity. 

O. W. Aldrich, LL. D., Contracts and Real Property. • 

L. Weldon, Pleadings. 

A. G. Karr, LL. B., Evidence and Criminal Law. 



73 



COLLEGE OF MUSIC. 

F. A. Parker, Dean. 

Flora M. Hunter, Piano-forte and Harmony. 

Laura B. Humphrey, Vocal Culture. 

The Faculty of the University is now composed of teachers of large experience^ 
many of whom have occupied their chairs for a series of years, and now bring to their 
work a ripe scholarship. The University, under their direction, has reached a degree 
of influence and importance scarcely anticipated b;y its early founders and patrons. 
During the year 1878, an art department was added. Mrs. Prof Moss was placed in 
charge. This department, though the last added, is steadily growing in favor and 
importance. 




OLD WKSLETAN UNIVERSITY. 



Another department, that of medicine, is about to be added to the institution, 
making it more thoroughly deserving the name of University. During the month of 
April, 1879, a medical college was organized, of which Gen. A. Gridley was elected 
President of the Board of Trustees ; President Hewitt, of Normal, Vice President • 
W. H. H. Adams, of the Wesleyan, Secretary, and Dr. T. F. Worrall, Treasurer. 
This college is to be attached to the Wesleyan on a similar footing to that of the law 
school. The regular term will be during the months of November, December, January 
and February. The course of study will occupy two years. There is little doubt of 
the success of the new institution. The following Professors were appointed April 24, 



74 

1879, and will, probably, the most of them, accept of the positions : Theory and Prac- 
tice of Surgery — W. Hill, M. D. ; Theory and Practice of Medicine — W. A. Elder, 
M. D. ; Anatomy— J. L. White, M. D. ; Physiology— T. F. Worrall, M. D. ; Materia 
Medica and Therapeutics— J. Little, M. D. ; Obstetrics — C. T. Orner, M. D. ; Mental 
and Nervous Diseases — A. T. Barnes, M. D. ; Diseases of Women and Children — R. 
Wunderlich, M. D. ; Demonstrator of Anatomy — A. H. Luce, M. D. ; Chemistry — C. 
Owen, A. M. ; Emeritus Professors — A. H. Luce, M. D., George W. Stipp, M. D. 

TEMPERANCE. 

Bloomington is entitled to the credit of being one of the first places in the West to 
organize a temperance society. The town was but little over one year old when the 
movement was made. Mr. A. C. Washburne, who organized the first Sabbath school 
here, took the first step in the great work. With the assistance of those friendly, he 
called a public meeting November 17, 1832, at 4 in the afternoon, at the schoolhouse. 
At the appointed hour, the small room was well filled with an interested assemblage. 
One of the two physicians of the place made rather an excited speech against the move- 
ment. He complimented Mr. Washburne by remarking that he had no great fear of 
the weak movement now being made in itself considered ; but there was something 
behind the curtain which he feared. He said the people " away down East " were 
sending their agents out West and all through the country to form Sunday schools and 
organize temperance societies, and these were all tied to the East as with a big, long cart- 
rope, and the Eastern people thought by these means to get control of the country, 
unite Church and State, and then woe to any who thought and acted different from 
them ! He was glad of the opportunity to express his views. A speech of this char- 
acter was not anticipated, and the temperance movement came near being strangled at 
its birth, as the public generally sympathized with the objections thus eloquently set 
forth. Mr. Washburne had prepared a constitution and by-laws for the McLean County 
Temperance Society, and also a temperance pledge. In his quiet, unobtrusive manner, 
he circulated this pledge, and obtained nine names ; but there was too much excitement 
to organize, and this was not accomplished until December 15, 1832. Mr. Washburne 
was the first Secretary. Among the first to assist in the temperance movement were 
Benjamin Depew, David Trimmer, Solomon Dodge, and their wives. 

The first temperance lecture was delivered February 3, 1833, by Rev. Neal John- 
son, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His text was, " Whether, therefore, ye 
eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Ten more signatures were 
then obtained to the pledge, and the temperance bark was fairly launched in Blooming- 
ton, as the Society soon numbered two hundred members. This Society lived and 
prospered, doing a good work, until the time of the great Washing! onian movement, 
about the year 1840, which took its place, bringing to the temperance cause an army of 
new workers, carrying its banners higher up the walls, where they have ever waved 
triumphantly. Among those who gave vigorous assistance in the latter movement, 
we may mention Jesse W. and Kersey H. Fell, Dr. John F. Henry, Dr. W. C. Hobbs, 
A. J. Merriman and many others. 

This Washingtonian temperance movement created great interest and accomplished 
a vast amount of good. It was successful in appealing to men by moral suasion, and is 
always referred to as that era of the temperance reform which has been entirely free 
from all objections. 



75 

In the early part of 1842, this Washingtonian movement was at its full height , 
and at this time there was formed a juvenile temperance society, which included nearly all 
the children in Bloomington. It appeared to the adults as if the next generation would 
most certainly do away with the traffic in intoxicating drinks, inasmuch as, if the children 
stood firm, there would be none who would demand these indulgences. On the 4th day 
of July, 1842, the juveniles had a celebration and picnic at the grove, where is now the 
corner of Center and Wood streets, which was an occasion of great public interest. 
Among the boys of that day who took part, we have the names of John L. Routt, 
Robert A. Miller, John W. Allin, Charles Lander and John W. Haggard. The effect 
of this juvenile movement, added to the regular Washingtonian influence, lasted for 
.several years, and carried the temperance banners high up on the walls of morality and 
reform ; but, in time, these lost their novelty, and society must be acted upon in a 
different manner, though, in the interim, the cause was greatly depressed. 

About the year 1848, the Sons of Temperance, a secret organization, with Dr. W. 
C. Hobbs as the first Worthy Patriarch, commenced the great work which was kept up 
for a good many years. Among those who took a prominent part in this, were Rev. 
Oeorge W. Minier, Dr. E. Thomas, A. T. Briscoe and John M. Scott. Through the 
labors of the members of this order, a large number of drunkards were reformed, and 
in various directions the temperance movement was kept alive and in good hands. In 
the year 1850, there was not a saloon in the city of Bloomington, showing us they 
were up and doing. 

We do not profess to write a full history of the temperance work of Bloomington, 
as our space is too limited. The materials exist for an history of this matter that shall 
be of intense interest, and of great local, we may almost say of great national, impor- 
tance, as here in Bloomington have originated several highly important projects in the 
good cause, whose carrying-out became of national interest. Furthermore, while these 
materials of history exist, they are very difficult to obtain. The cause of temperance is 
like that of the Christian religion in this respect, that it is found in a great variety of 
shapes and methods ; in other words, it has taken upon itself the most remarkable forms 
in the way of organizations. But unlike Christianity, which is historically traced 
through the various sects and societies — the cause of temperance seems to run through 
the most wonderful changes. As soon as one particular form of labor has lost its inter- 
est to the public, the friends of temperance re-organize, and are found laboring in a dif- 
ferent manner. Hence, we find it impossible to trace properly, in the short space allotted 
us, the history of the different forms and shapes in which the friends of temperance 
have been organized. We have mentioned a few of these, but we cannot dwell upon 
the Temple of Honor, an Order rather higher than the last-mentioned, or trace the 
history of all the various temperance societies intervening between the years 1832 and 1879. 

We should mention that when the Maine Law excitement swept over the land in 
1854 and 1855, it found Bloomington people ready to take hold and do their share in 
the movement. Society here was stirred deeply, and every means possible was resorted 
to, in order to secure what the friends of the movement believed would be to the best 
interest of the cause. These efforts culminated in 1855, by the election of a full anti- 
license City Council, with Franklin Price for Mayor. A strong prohibitory ordinance 
was passed, and a tremendous effort to enforce it was made for several months. Saloons 
were raided by the city officers ; liquors poured into the streets, and a series of legal 



76 

prosecutions ensued that were very expensive to the city, as well as vexatious and pro- 
voking to all concerned. In the end, the city government adopted the license system and 
adhered to it for many years. In all probability the anti-license ordinance would have been 
sustained, and Bloomington would have remained permanently on that sideof the question, 
but for the immense increase in population which took place here during these days — 
from 1854 to 1856 — when the newcomers were, many of them, persons who were little 
in sympathy with the people who had long been Hving here, and who had been laboring 
together in the temperance cause. About the year 1857, the order of Good Templars 
was organized, and again there w;is something of a revival of temperance effort. During 
the war, this order was allowed to disband, but before its close it again re-organized, and 
from the year 1865 to 1876, it was a tremendous power in Bloomington, and it is even 
yet in a good condition for future usefulness. At one time, there were several different 
lodges, at least three being in operation ; while at the same time, as in truth we may as 
well state, was the case from the time of the organization of the first se3ret temper- 
ance lodge in 1848 — there were in existence powerful societies of a public nature, all 
laboring in the same good cause. 

While Bloomington people were at work in the local temperance field, they did not 
forget that in this, as in the cause of Christianity, " the field is the world," and they took 
part in wider enterprises. We furnish from the pen of John W. Haggard, a history of 
our city's connection with the organization of the National Prohibition Party. 

On the 12th of December, 1868, a mass State Convention met at Bloomington, for the pur- 
pose of considering the status of the case, and, if possible, to adopt some additional and better 
modes of action than had heretofore been employed. This was one of the largest and most en- 
thusiastic temperance conventions ever held in Illinois. After discussing the question nearly a 
whole day, it was decided to go into political action, and they proceeded at once to appoint a 
State Central Committee, and provide all the machinery of a modern political party. 

The National Prohibition Party was first organized at Chicago, September, 1869. On the 
2'2d of February, 1872, the second National Convention met at Columbus, Ohio, and put in nomi- 
nation for President and Vice President, James Black, of Pennsylvania, and John Russell, of 
Michigan. The ticket received about seven thousand votes. 

The third National Convention met May 17, 1876, at Cleveland, Ohio, and nominated Green 
Clay Smith, of Kentucky, and Gideon T. Stewart, of Ohio. They received about thirty-five 
thousand votes, notwithstanding old party lines were closely drawn, and the party lash more 
vigorously plied than for many years past, whereby thousands of Prohibitionists were led to be- 
lieve it their duty to vote one or the other ticket for the purpose of " saving the country." 

In the fall of 1877, we had State tickets in eight or nine States, and polled about sixty 
thousand votes, showing a healthy steady growth from the beginning. The same ratio of increase 
will in ten years from this date give us control of the National Government and a majority of the 
States. 

A complete organization exists in the following States, to wit : Maine, New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 
Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, 
with several others yet to follow this year. 

That God will hasten the day when the liquor traffic shall be overthrown, is the prayer of 
every consistent temperance man and woman in the land. 

On the 16th of March, 1874, the Woman's Temperance League was organized in. 
Bloomington. Mrs, Jennie F. WilHng was first President, Miss Mary Dean, Secretary^ 
and Mrs, M. D. Marquis, Treasurer. The above-named organization co-operating with 
the Good Templars, and with all temperance bodies in Bloomington, obtained a vote of the 



77 

people at the city election, in April, instructing the City Council not to grant any licenses 
to sell intoxicating liquors. 

This action was taken by the Woman's Temperance League after careful thought 
and prayerful deliberation. They marshaled their forces and managed the campaign 
with great ability, even to sending delegations of representative ladies to each voting- 
place in the different wards. The majority for " no license" was 159. The election 
took place on the 20th of April, 187-1. One half of the newly-elected Aldermen were 
opposed to license, but as one-half the Council held over from the election of 1873, and 
this portion were mostly in favor of license, the Council contained a majority of the 
latter class. Its " prohibition " ordinance, voted in accordance with the wish of the 
people, was not such an ordinance as the real friends of temperance desired. It left 
dealers at liberty to sell under the State law in quantities of one gallon. A weak effort 
was made to enforce this " gallon " ordinance, and, after a few months, the city returned 
to the old system of license. Even as it was, the statistics of the Police Department 
show that for this year the number of arrests for drunkenness was 30 per cent less than 
in the following year. 

In the latter part of the summer of 187-4, a call went out from Bloomington for a 
meeting of the temperance women of Illinois, and the result was that in October the 
State Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized here. Our ladies who were 
engaged in the narrow field of Bloomington did not forget that there was a larger sphere 
of labor, and they assisted in organizing a more comprehensive Society. The Woman's 
Temperance League here now became a sub-organization of the State Si^ciety, which 
soon had a foot-hold in most of the prominent towns in this State. The Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union of Bloomington is the mainsprins; of the Temperance 
work in Bloomington, and keeps a watchful, steadfast, prayerful guard over the cause. 
Its present President is Mrs. Crego ; its Vice President is Mrs. G. H. Read; Mrs 
Merchant is its Secretary, and Mrs. James Winslow is Treasurer. 

In 1875, this Society organized a very large number of the children of the city 
into the Star Temperance Union, and, in all, nearly two thousand boys and girls have 
become members. These all take the triple obligation — abjuring intoxicants and tobacco, 
and refraining from profanity. The strength of this society is such that, as in 1842, it 
seems as if the next generation might be a temperate people. The first President or 
this Society was Mrs. G. H. Read, and Dr. Sitherwood now holds that position. From 
this Society there is now a uniformed company of boys, called Temperance Cadets, who 
make a beautiful appearance. 

In May, 1875, occurred at Bloomington a Good Templars' Meeting of the Grand 
Lodge of the World. It was an event long to be remembered. There were in attend- 
ance delegates from thirty-three States of the Union, and several of the provinces of 
the Canadian Dominion were represented. There were a number of delegates from 
England, New Zealand, Bermuda and other foreign countries. This meeting indicates 
plainly that the temperance people of Bloomington have a world-wide reputation. It 
was in session on the 26th, 27th and 28th days of May. 

We must repeat our observation as to the impossibility of obtaining or publishins 
a full history of the different organizations of the temperance movement. We are even 
in danger of overlooking the fact that among our Irish citizens there are several power- 
ful temperance organizations. The Father Mathew Total Abstinence and Benevolent 



78 

Society, and the St. Patrick Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society, are both strong 
organizations, and are doing, perhaps, as much good as any others in our city. 

We will close our sketch with a brief mention of the " Washingtonian Club," 
which was organized May 25, 1876. This Club is a very remarkable institution. It& 
success in rescuing drunkards and moderate drinkers from their impending fate, has 
endeared it to the hearts of our citizens. The society leaped into life and power with 
wonderful rapidity. In the fall of 1876, it rented the auditorium of the old Methodist 
Church, and there it holds weekly meetings, frequent social gatherings, and constantly meets 
Jbr Sabbath-afternoon lectures. It has saved hundreds of the victims of intemperance, 
and has accomplished a wonderful amount of good. As far as the human eye can see, 
this organization is entitled to stand at the head of all agencies for good now in opera- 
tion in Bloomington, not excepting our churches or other organizations. 

From this society influences for good have radiated in all directions. Other clubs 
have been formed in this State, organized upon a similar basis, and under the same name. 
The Bloomington club is known as the Washingtonian Club No. 1. Mr. A. B. Camp- 
bell, one of its prominent members, has devoted the past two years to lecturing and 
laboring throughout this State. He is a powerful speaker, and has acquired a very envi- 
able name. 

Our Club has increased so that it is one of the largest in the world. Its member- 
ship is now 5,460. The President is Joseph 0. Pullen ; First Vice President, M. 
Mclntire ; Second Vice President, J. H. Sprague ; Treasurer, G. H. Read ; Secretary, 
B. W. Mason. Its Trustees are William W. Ives, Henry M. Waite, Arthur J. Mean& 
and N. N. Winslow. Its Chaplain is R. A. Curtis. Its first President was Dr. George 
S. Smith ; Vice President, Mrs. C. H. Waite ; William Munger, Secretary ; Mrs. 
Hattie Allin, Assistant Secretary ; John Magoun, Treasurer. Mr. Magoun gave the 
organization of this Club his hearty co-operation and assistance ; and, but for his aid, it 
might not have become established. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union are 
entitled to much of the credit for the inauguration of this movement, over which they 
have kept a watchful care ever since its organization. 

In all the years that have passed since the organization of the McLean County 
Temperance Society at the little log schoolhouse in 1832, the cause of temperance has 
passed through most wonderful changes. Whenever a particular form of organization 
has lost its charm ; when the novelty has left it, we find the movement has taken 
another shape, and the great cause has on the whole gone forward and upward better 
than ever before. This historical record should be an incentive to all who are now 
engaged in the work. From it they can see their way clear to labor unceasingly in the 
good cause — confident of final success. 

NURSERIES. 

As early as 1848, fruit trees were sold in Bloomington by Robert Fell, and about 
the same time by Nelson Buck. There may have been something done before this on a 
small scale, but it was not until after this that Bloomington became widely advertised 
as a tree-growing point. Dr. Schroeder was perhaps the first to make his busines 
known to the outside world, more particularly in the line of grapes, which were not 
cultivated in this neighborhood with much success, until he made the public aware that 
the climate would admit of the production of the grape. Dr. Schroeder was one of the 



79 ■ ] 

earliest to advertise Bloomington as a nursery town, and his circulars, advertisements 
articles in newspapers, and his enthusiasm at horticultural and pomological conventions 
contributed largely to make known the fact that Bloomington was the center of the 
business. He deserves to be classed among the foremost in this branch of Blooming- 
ton's development. 

In the year 1854, Mr. F. K. Phoenix, then from Delavan, Wis., made a beginning 
of the famous nurseries that have so long been a credit to his energy and an advertise- 
ment to Bloomington. He saw that the completion of the two new railroads then 
building would give Bloomington shipping facilities that rendered it an important point 
for the business. He embarked his means and carried on his transactions on a gigantic 
scale. At times he employed over two hundred men ; and during the height of his 
business, from 1866 to 1870, his sales were immense. He had as many as six hundred 
acres under cultivation, and engaged in the sale of nursery stock, both at wholesale and 
retail, including seeds, plants, trees, and everything that could be desired in this line of 
business. Other nurseries were owned here by different parties, amounting, in the 
aggregate, to almost as much more, and Bloomington became known all over the United 
States as the "Rochester of the West." Probably no one single business has carried 
the name of Bloomington to as many homeSj as did that of Mr. Phoenix, advertised in 
nearly all the publications of the land. 

Orders were received here from all the countries where the English language is 
spoken, and often from other parts of the world. It was a heavy loss to Bloomington 
and Normal, and a source of public regret, when this business began to fall off in 1873 
to 1879, and it is feared we shall never see it as flourishing again. The rapid increase 
of nurseries in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, explains the changed state of affairs. The 
Phoenix nurseries, Dr. H. Schroeder's, F. A. Bailer's, J. D. Robinson's, and several others 
are still engaged in the business, whieh is even yet one of considerable importance. 
What has been stated in relation to the Phoenix nurseries, applies to Normal Township, 
as they are in that town ; but from having been called the Bloomington nurseries so long, 
it seemed best to speak of them in the history of the latter corporation. 

COAL. 

The first blacksmith's coal used in Bloomington was teamed from Danville, Peoria, 
or some distant point. No one dreamed of finding coal under our soil until scientific 
geologists conceived the idea from their knowledge of the formation of the -crust of the 
earth, taken in connection with what science taught from the appearance of the coal- 
bearing strata, at places where coal was mined on the surface, as at Danville and places 
along the Illinois River. For a long time, science made but little headway in convin- 
cing our citizens where to look for coal, and train-loads of the article arrived from 
Duquoin from Peoria and La Salle. Lecturers on geology, among whom was Prof. C. 
Wilber, for many years in charge of the museum at the Normal University, continued 
to teach the public, and the newspapers aiding them, it was finally decided to bore for 
coal. The first attempt was made in 1863, in a field west of the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad shops, where dwelling-houses have since been constructed. The City Council 
spent $2,000, and quite a sum was raised by private subscription, all under the superin- 
tendence of Eliel Barber. The men who did the boring could run a machine of that 
sort, but could not tell what their auger passed through. After going down over five 



80 

hundred feet, the most they could report was having passed through a black shale slate, 
and in which it could not be possible coal existed. The trouble seemed to be that their 
auger mixed the coal, sand, clay and other material most inextricably, and there was no 
such thing as ascertaining what was discovered. Of course our citizens were dis- 
couraged by the result, and coal was still imported at enormous figures. There were 
many of our people who were firmly of the opinion that coal would be found by boring 
with suitable tools, and another effort was made in 1866, this time entirely by private 
subscription. The following is a copy of the subscription paper : 

Bloomington, 111., May 28, 1866. 
We, the undersigned, agree to pay on demand, to John Magoun and C. AV. Holder, or order, 
the sums set opposite our respective names, for the purpose of prospecting and boring for coal 
in or near the city of Bloomington, said work to be commenced within ninety days from this 
date. The amount so collected and paid to .John Magoun and C. W. Holder to be by them dis- 
bursed for the securing of the above object. If coal is found in paying quantities, the 
-company formed for mining purposes shall re-imburse the subscribers by giving them stock, 
money, or coal as they elect. If coal is not found in paying (juantities, the money shall be lost 
by the respective subscribers. 

There were many other subscribers who gave money, amounting to $1,700, ot 
which about $1,200 was paid. Boring was commenced at once, near the present city 
well. 

November 15, 1866, when at the depth of 160 feet, the drill was lost, all attempts 
to recover it having proved fruitless ; and it is an historical fact that the auger still 
remains in that " bore." The money was expended ; the tools lost ; the public gener- 
ally took a very desponding view of the situation ; coal continued to be shipped into 
Bloomington at the rate of 20,000 tons per year, and the coal-mine owners at points 
then supplying Bloomington were in great spirits. 

But a few energetic young men, whose names deserve to be written among the 
benefactors of our city, who had been watching the operations with careful attention, 
conceived the idea that, with proper care on the part of those who managed the auger, 
after the experience gained in the two former attempts, success would be almost certain, 
and they boldly undertook the third trial, in the face of an almost despairing public senti- 
ment, asking no aid from any and using their own money. Their operations were con- 
ducted with great care, at an expense of $1,300, and the result was that coal of a good 
quality was discovered, at a depth of 302 feet, on the 27th day of February, 1867. 
These gentlemen were Thomas J. Bunn, Judson L. Spaulding, Dr. H. C. Luce and 
James L. Ridelhuber. 

History compels us to add that they never made any money out of the North 
Shaft Coal Company, which they organized in June, 1867 — another reason why their 
names should be held in grateful remembrance. 

Before this coal company had been long in existence, a second was formed, in 1867, 
and a shaft put down near the crossing of the Chicago & Alton and the I., B. & W. R. 
R., where the McLean County Coal Company is in successful operation. Their shaft 
is now 540 feet in depth, and they employ 200 men. During the past winter, this 
company has furnished coal of a good quality, at the shaft, at the wonderfully low price 
of $1.50 per ton. This company is an immense advantage to Bloomington and to all the 
surrounding country, and should be encouraged in every possible manner. It is one of 
our most worthy enterprises, being, in fact, the employer of a larger number of men 



81 

than any company in the place, except one, to say nothing of the great advantages it- 
gives in keeping the price of coal down to such remarkably low figures. 

Could our first settlers have imagined the day would ever come when coal would 
bo mined under their feet, and sold at such prices, they would have had vastly more 
faith in the future of this rich country, of which the worst that could then be said was 
that it contained little fuel, and that on that account it would sustain but a small popu- 
lation. This company raises as much as five hundred tons in twenty-four hours, on 
«xtra occasions, though its average daily out-put is about two hundred tons. During 
the year, its sales amount to over sixty thousand tons, and its pay-rolls in the winter sea- 
son often exceed $10,000 per month. 

WATER. 

For many years after the settlement of Bloomington, no one supposed the town 
could ever obtain a supply of water for public purposes. Rival cities with a visible 
supply of muddy river-water, have delighted in taunting Bloomington with its con- 
dition in this respect. Various were the expedients devised and talked of for obtaining 
a supply of water sufficient to meet the public demand. One engineer, eminent in his 
profession, with a national reputation, proposed the most feasible scheme that was 
devised, which was nothing less than a pipe all the way from the Mackinaw River to the 
high ground north of Normal, where a reservoir could be made that would force the 
water all over the city of Bloomington. Another project was to "impound" the water 
of the low ground northeast of the city, by building a dam and thus retaining the sur- 
face water in a pond that might answer all purposes, similar to the Jacksonville plan. 
This would, of course, render the neighborhood of the pond unhealthy ; would be 
very expensive and would not insure good drinking-water. The dry year of 1854 
caused great distress for water in this part of the State, and Bloomington people were 
very much exercised with fears that the location and building of their rapidly-grow- 
ing city might after all, have been a serious mistake. We find that a public 
meeting was called July 23, 1854, when Mr. J. W. Fell offered the following resolutions 
which were unanimously adopted after a discussion, in which the mover. Judge Davis, 
Dr. Freese and others, participated. 

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, whose duty it shall be — having previously 
associated v^^ith them one or more persons of practical skill in hydraulics and civil engineering 
— to institute an examination on the following propositions, to wit : 1st. The practicability of 
obtaining at Sugar Creek, or at any other point or points, in or near the city, an adequate sup- 
ply of pure water at all seasons of the year, and for all wants of the community. 2d. The best 
method of elevating the same (should a supply be deemed advisable) to a reservoir of sufficient 
capacity to be located on the public square, or at some other suitable point in the central part 
of the city, whence it may be drawn oflF to meet the wants of the community. 3d. The proba- 
ble expense attending the execution of such a system of hydraulics ; and lastly, the best mothod 
of defraying the expenses incident to such an undertaking ; and the probable length of time for 
its accomplishment. 

Resolved, That in the execution of the duties intrusted to said committee, they be author- 
ized to make whatever surveys and examinations may be necessary ; and that the Mayor and 
City Council be respectfully requested lo co-operate with them and provide the necessary means 
to defray the expense attending the same. 

Resolved, That said committee be requested to proceed with all practicable dispatch in the 
execution of the aforesaid duties ; and that they report the result of their examinations to the 

F 



82 

City Council or to a public meeting hereafter to be called by them, or both, as they in their dis- 
cretion may deem most expedient. 

Resolved, That we recommend our City Council to build six or more cisterns at suitable 
points in Bloomington, to hold 200 or 250 barrels each : provided, the city does not adopt the 
hydraulic system of obtaining water. 

The Chair appointed the following persons as committee : Jesse W. Fell, J. W. 
Ewing, F. K. Phoenix, James Allin, Sr., and William Wallace. 

It will thus be seen that the question of proper water supply has long been before 
the public. In the twenty years intervening between this public meeting and the final 
solution of the problem, a great variety of projects have been discussed. 

It appears that in digging the coal-shaft which was first sunk, the one northwest of 
the city, a vein of water was encountered of great volume — so powerful that the first 
attempt was abandoned — and a success only made after moving a few rods and procuring 
very heavy pumping machinery. This discovery led the Chicago & Alton Railroad Com- 
pany, in 1869, to dig in the vicinity a well which struck the same vein, and proved suf- 
ficient to supply the immense amount of water needed for that large corporation. From 
this time the attention of our citizens generally was turned to that point, and public 
opinion finally settled on the advisability of attempting to obtain the city supply by 
digging a well, and experimenting still further with that wonderful underground 
reservoir. 

In the summer and fall of 1874, at the end of a series of four very dry seasons^ 
the City Council made the attempt. It proved remarkably successful. The water^ 
found at a depth of only forty feet, was sufficient to keep three powerful engines busy, 
whose united efi"orts threw a solid six-inch stream, which removed the water as fast as 
it flowed into the well. On Christmas Day, 1874, the whole population that wished, 
examined the fountain — the well having been finished the day before. As a sample of 
what had been discovered, the engines were kept at work, throwing the water in a stream 
which, as it flowed ofi", was equal to a good-sized brook. There was but one opinion, 
and that was that the fountain was large enough to justify the erection of a system of 
water works; and in the summer of 1875, the stand-pipe was erected, 200 feet high, 
an engine and pump placed in position at the well, two miles and a half of pipe laid in 
the streets, and a full sytem of water works inaugurated, which has since been enlarged 
by additional pipes and more machinery. The total cost of the whole, up to April 30, 
1878, has been $86,944.83. This includes about eight miles of water-mains, the 
engines and machinery, the stand-pipe, four drinking-fountains, seventy hydrants and 
everything connected with the Water Department. 

The water is of a medicinal nature, rather heavily charged with mineral deposits, 
but is very healthy and much liked by those who have been using it for any length of 
time. Its value to the city can only be reckoned by millions. 

The Water Board consists of Peter Rockwell, J. W. Trotter and John W. Evans. 
M. X. Chuse is Superintendent. 

The present city well is on the same tract where the first coal-shaft was attempted, 
which enterprise in reality demonstrated the existence of our valuable supply of water. 

MANUFACTURES. 

In tracing the early history of manufacturing, we shall be quite bi-ief We will 
mention that the first machinery of which we read, appears to have been a " dog 



83 

power," used by Henry Miller, the first wheelwright, in the manufacture of spinning 
wheels. He was here in 1831, and probably used this machinery near that date. He 
owned the first turning-lathe in Bloomington, about the year 1835. Seth Baker 
owned the first saw-mill. His machinery was propelled by oxen in a tread-mill. This 
must have been about 1832 or 1833. Solomon Dodge ran the first corn-mill about this 
time, also impelled by the patient ox. Perhaps we should except the " corn-cracker," 
erected by Dr. Baker in the winter of 1830 and 1831, at the time of the Deep Snow. 
This mill was on his farm in Blooming Gi-rove, and was in running order at a very late 
date. There were also other "hand" corn-mills, as well as horse-mills in Blooming 
Grove at a very early date, earlier than either of the above-mentioned. Rev. E. Rhodes 
is said to have had a " hand corn-mill " as early as 1824, and, by the winter of 1831 
and 1832 — the year after the Deep Snow — there were several " horse-mills " at the Grove. 
It would be pleasant if we were able to follow the improvements that have taken 
place in the last fifcy years, to return to the spinning-wheels of Blooming Grove and 
exhibit them with the finest machinery in our modern looms ; to compare the home- 
made hoe and wooden plow of the pioneer with the polished implements turned out 
to-day by Brokaw and Walton, or to bring the old ox-cart and rude wagon into com- 
parison with Ferre's phaetons and Matern's buggies. But we must pass to a hasty 
examination of what we find, leaving comparisons to the reader. 

The Chicago & Alton Railroad Company's shops are our most worthy manufactories, 
and shall be first examined. But for these, one-fifth of Bloomington's population 
would be out of business to-day. The company generally pays out each month the 
sum of $30,000 to about 700 men. No wonder that Springfield offered to exchange 
the State Capitol for this single manufactory ! The establishment is full and complete 
— will turn out everything needed, from a locomotive of the heaviest class to a finely- 
finished and elegantly-upholstered sleeping-car, while anything in use by the company, 
be it a pump, an engine, a car or a wind-mill, can be repaired by the ingenious workmen 
with the fine machinery of the diff"erent departments. When, in the autumn of 1853, 
the first train of cars on this road entered Bloomington from the South, the enterprise 
was in its infancy. There had been no less than four separate companies owning the 
line from Chicago to St. Louis, and there was little to indicate the future enormous 
proportions of the Chicago & St. Louis Railroad. The Illinois Central, which had 
been the topic of conversation in Illinois for more than fifteen years, was looked upon 
as the only railroad of importance. Bloomington had made an efibrt to secure what 
were regarded as the remarkably valuable machine and repair shops of that company, 
and had seen itself, in 1852, beaten by the insignificant town of Wapella, The atten- 
tention of men like James Allin, Jesse W. Fell, A. Gridley, W. H. AUin and David 
Davis — men of eagle eye and sound judgment — was at once turned to the little " Alton 
& Sangamon Company," as the new line was at first called, then the " Chicago & Mis- 
sissippi Railroad," and they determined to secure here the railroad-shops, hoping that in 
the future it might grow into a large establishment. They took steps to this end early 
in 1853, each of them making a donation to the company for this purpose, and they 
stimulated others to do the same. These efforts were successful and a tract of land of 
over six acres was donated to the railroad company for railroad purposes. This land 
was bounded on the east by the track, on the north by the township line, on the west 
by the section line, being triangular in shape. It is on this spot that the original shops 



84 

were built, but it has been greatly enlarged. On the east side of the track, the piece 
of land bounded on the west by the track, on the east by Catharine street, and south by 
Chestnut street, the site of the old passenger depot, was also donated, the whole having 
been paid for by the gentlemen named above, with others, and deeded to the company 
by W. H. Alliu with full warrantee deeds, for the sum of S3. In all there were 
over seven acres. 

During the years 1853 and 1854, the shops needed for the little railroad company 
were built, and a beginning made in the great enterprise of which we are now so proud. 
These were added to from time to time, so that, in the year 1858, nearly two hundred 
men were employed in the different departments. As the business of the road 
increased — the different pieces of the road being consolidated into one corporation — the 
shops were enlarged four times, until at the time of the fire, November 2, 1867, nearly 
as many men were employed as there are now. These buildings were not well arranged, 
however, and that event compelled the company to face the problem of permanent con- 
struction. Plans were prepared carefully during the winter following the fire, for the 
best system that could be devised, taking into account what was then needed, and con- 
sidering the probable increase of business of the present road and the possible growth 
from future consolidations with other railroads, and the result is seen in the splendid 
shops now finished. 

At the time of their construction, there were no railroad shops west of Altoona, 
Penn., that surpassed these in Bloomington ; but in the last few years it is possible 
they may have been equaled. The ground upon which the old shops stood at the time 
of the fire was not large enough for the needs of the present establishment, and before 
the new woi'ks were commenced the company obtained quite an addition, and secured 
from the city the closing of streets and alleys that were in the way. The conditions of 
rebuilding here in Bloomington, in preference to removing the shops to Springfield, 
Joliet or Chicago, were, that the additional ground should be furnished and those streets 
and alleys vacated by the city. This was agreed to by the City Council ; but before 
the matter could be consummated legally, considerable time must elapse, and hence there 
was doubt whether the city might be able to accomplish all that was desired. In order 
to insure this, a guarantee was signed by nearly all the leading citizens of Blooming- 
ton, agreeing that all should be done as desired. 

The space occupied by the company for shops and tracks is equal to forty acres. 
Here we find more than a dozen very large buildings, in which are carried on the 
immense operations of the company. Among the principal shops we will mention : 

The Car-Shop 263 by 80 feet. 

Planing " 200 by 75 " 

Paint " 170 by 75 " 

Dry-House 63 by 19 " 

Foundry 180 by 60 " 

L 50 by 40 " 

Blacksmith-Shop 200 by 75 " 

Boiler-Shop 160 by 60 " 

Machine-Shop 260 by TOO " 

Machine-Shop Addition 50 by 45 " 

80 by 45 " 

Old Machine-Shop 270 by 40 " 

Rolling-Mili (wood) 132 by 57 " 

Old Roundhouse 240 feet in diameter. 

New Roundhouse 240 '■ " 

Storehouse 120 by 60 feet. 



85 

All these buildings, except the rolling-raill and the old machine-shops, are built of 
Joliet stone, have iron-trussed roofs covered with slate, and several of the largest are 
two-stories high. Beside the above, there are several smaller buildings, the pattern-shop, 
brass-foundry and several others. Taken all in all, it is seldom we find such a magnifi- 
cent collection of manufacturing establishments as are here grouped together upon the 
forty acres and more of land belonging to the company. These shops are filled with 
the finest and most substantial machinery that can be found. One can form some idea 
of this from the simple statement that in the blacksmith-shop there are fifty forges, and 
eight steam trip-hammers, the latter weighing eight to fifteen hundred pounds. Several 
of the largest and most powerful steam-engines in the West are in constant use to pro- 
pel the ponderous machinery of the different departments. Even the pumping-engine, 
which forces water from the company's magnificent well, is a large engine. These dif- 
ferent structures were over two years in building, having been finished nearly as they 
now stand, about the beginning of the year 1870. When the machine-shop is rebuilt 
to correspond with those now in use, the appearance of the whole will be superior to 
anything of the kind in the State. 

Here the company are able to build locomotives and cars, or to repair the same — 
doing all portions of the complicated work, and they employ some of the most ingenious 
and skillful mechanics that can be found. The presence here, in Bloomington, of the 
large number of intelligent mechanics, foremen and superintendents required, has a 
very elevating and beneficial effect upon the city. Bloomington can boast of these 
shops and of their occupants, they being the most important and valuable of anything in 
the filace. Their size and industry entitles the city to be classed as a manufacturing 
center. Here are employed from six hundred to nine hundred men, the number vary- 
ing with the condition of the company's business. 

Among the company's officers who have been prominently identified with the mate- 
rial development of Bloomington in the past, we may mention Hon. Hamilton Spencer, 
Lessee, 1860 ; Charles Roadnight, Treasurer in 1858 ; Mr. R. Parkp, Agent in 1864 ; 
Asa H. Moore, Superintendent for several years ; J. A. Jackmap, Superintendent of 
Machinery from 1864 to 1879 ; Rufus Reniff", Superintendent of Car-shops from 1861 
to 1879; Matthew L. Steele, Train-Dispatcher ; William Hughes and A. Moulton, 
of the Iron Departments ; 0. Vaughan, present Assistant Superintendent, and there are 
many others equally deserving of mention. 

It has always been the policy of the company to retain good men in any position 
they are fitted for, and there are a large number of the officers and employes who have 
been in service nearly twenty years. Taken as a class, the railroad employes are much 
superior to the average mechanics of the country, and their presence in Bloomington in 
such large numbers adds largely to the character of our population. 

The Railroad Company pays out monthly a very large sum of money, which enters 
at once into circulation, giving life and reliable activity to the retail trade of Blooming- 
ton and furnishing constant proof of the value of this immense establishment. The 
policy of the company toward our city is quite liberal, its tpanagers realizing that their 
interests here are large enough to make the public good a matter of self-interest to the 
corporation. Several illustrations of this good-will have been given in the past, one of 
the most important being its liberality in assisting in macadamizing the street from the 



86 

freight depot to the Court House square, and also, in 1878, in assisting the city in the 
pavement of Washington street. 

The whole policy of the company, under the management of President Blackstone 
and Manager McMullin, has been liberal, one evidence of which is seen in the share the 
company is taking in the great work of underdraining the farms of Central Illinois. 
This tile-drainage improvement marks a new era in the development of this country 
almost equal to the invention of the harvester, and this railroad has been carrying tile 
for farmers' drains at the simple cost of carriage, or at less than cost, thus being willing 
to perform its share in one of the most important of our modern agricultural improve- 
ments. 

The Chicago & Alton Railroad Company ranks among the foremost corporations in 
the country in its care of its rolling-stock, and has been one of the readiest to adopt 
new improvements. Could the full history of these shops be written, as at some future 
time we hope it will be, we should all be astonished at the record of valuable inventions 
that would be presented. We might mention Reniff & Buttolph's Patent Ventilator, 
President Blackstone's Car-coupler, and many others, but must leave this subject with 
one more reference — that of the Pullman Palace- Car. In 1859, George M. Pullman 
arranged berths in two cars for the use of this company, and, in 1863, he manufactured 
here the first two palace cars ever made. They cost $18,000 each. It is said that the 
frame-work of the first sleeping-car Pullman ever made is now lying by the side of the 
railroad in Bloomington. 

We might add that the total cost of these magnificent shops is in the neighborhood 
of $1,000,000, and that they are owned by one of the wealthiest corporations in the 
Northwest. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad now owns or leases 876 miles of road, 
having built, in the year 1878, 162 miles, giving it a completed line from Chicago to 
Kansas City. The repairs of this immense road, with its several branches, being mostly 
concentrated at this one point, demand an amount of labor that will be more likely to 
increase than diminish. 

The agricultural development of this region has received great benefit from the 
railroad, the reaper and the plow — the last being an implement of more importance than 
the present generation can realize possible. The railroad and the reaper are understood 
by all, but the advantages of our modern self-polishing plows are imperfectly realized, 
except by our old settlers. The new-comers, down to about 1845, brought plows with 
them, and various styles were in use, but none of them would work well in our fine 
prairie soil, and the cultivation of the land was toilsome and imperfect. It was impos- 
sible to plow but a few rods without a stop for the purpose of clearing the implement from 
the accumulation of toil. Cast iron, wrought iron or wood were almost alike — worthless 
— and for many years our farmers despaired of ever seeing the right plow for this soil. 

Lewis Bunn was one of the first blacksmiths here, and made plows as early as 
the year 1833. He tried to make the best plow that could be devised. In the year 
1838, he made a lot of the ''Sprouse" pattern, which had a boiler-iron mold-board, 
placed at such an angle, that the heavy friction of the soil would "scour" them better 
than any previously in use. These plows had the handles and wood-work much like a 
"shovel" plow, and did not run steady — were "jerky" and severe on a team. The 
next year they were improved by a difierent attachment of the beam. Mr. Abraham 
Brokaw made the wood-work of these plows for several years. In 1840, Mr. Bunn 



87 

made the " Rathbone " plow — an improvement — the mold-board was still boiler-iron, 
but the implement was more steady. The mold-board was ground smooth, and in 
some soils these would scour well. Oliver Ellsworth was Mr. Bunn's partner at this 
time, and together they made 300 of these Rathbone plows — quite a manufacturing 
business for the times. 

In 1842, the firm made the " Tobey & Anderson," or "Peoria," plow, of which 
the mold-board was common steel, ground, but not polished. This gave great satis- 
faction — was further improved — and by the year 1844 and 1845 they were in great 
demand. Farmers came long distances for these celebrated plows, and at one time the 
firm rented a large pasture in which teams were kept while waiting their turns. At 
this time, it was fully demonstrated that plows could be made that would work freely in 
any soil, and the result was a very decided improvement in the cultivation of prairies. 
Bloomington's mechanics — Bunn, Ellsworth and Brokaw — contributed largely to the 
result. About the year 1859, these three men went into partnership together, and con- 
tinued several years. 

It was not till 1857 that these steel mold-boards were polished perfectly, and since 
that date the improvements in plows have been of comparatively little importance. 
About the year 1845, is the date when practicable plows first came into general use, so 
as to be found upon all our farms, as near as we have been able to ascertain. 

The plow-shops of Abraham Brokaw, at the corner of Main and Market, are among 
the oldest in Central Illinois. Mr. B. has been in the business nearly forty years, and 
has acquired a splendid reputation. He employs from twenty to forty men. John T. 
Walton, who started in business in 1857, employs over twenty men in the busy season, 
and makes a large variety of the difierent plows and cultivators required by the Western 
and Southern trade. His business is carried on in the fine block fronting on Washing- 
ton street, just west of the People's Bank. 

There are smaller plow-shops in the city, the several repair and general shops to be 
found in a town like Bloomington, with machinists, boiler-makers and other iron-work- 
ers, who employ a large number of men. 

There are several large wood-working establishments, of which some of the most 
important are those of J. W. Evans, and the wagon and carriage factories of L. Ferre, 
L. Matern, S. Hayes, and others. 

One of the most important manufactories in Bloomington is Dr. C. Wakefield & 
Co.'s medicine factory, as well as one of the most interesting. Dr. Wakefield spent two 
years in this place as early as 1837, having been a school-teacher in the Orendorff dis- 
trict. He then lived in De Witt County until 1850, when he made his home here. 
His brother. Dr. Zera Wakefield, who died in 1848, had remarkable success iii treating 
the malarial diseases of this country, having been in demand over a large territory radi- 
ating from his home in De Witt County. His remedies were so good that before his 
death, in 1848, many packages were sold, and a demand grew up, to supply which, in 
1850, Dr. C. Wakefield moved from De Witt County and started a factory in Bloom- 
ington. 

His business was pushed with great energy, and soon became well established and 
profitable. Dr. W. built the first three-story brick store in Bloomington, which, with 
his factory and drug store, was burned in the great fire of October IG, 1855. His 
large factory on East Washington street, built about the year 1856, has grown with his 



business, until it is now a large and very convenient establishment. Here he manufact- 
ures a variety of medicines, mostly fever and ague specifics, balsams, cough-sirups, pills, 
etc., in all, about ten different remedies, and a number of essences and other prepara- 
tions. In their preparation, great care is taken to secure the purest and best ingredients, 
and the result is that his medicines rank with the best that are offered to the public. 
They are sold largely in the States of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and 
Iowa, while there is a good demand in all the Western and Southwestern States. He 
has a team, with a fine wagon, in six of these States, and thus keeps a watch over the 
territory through salaried agents, while he has over six thousand local agents, mostly drug- 
gists and dealers, who sell his medicines on commission. He employs from twenty-five 
to fifty hands, according to the season. He has four printing-presses, run by steam- 
power, by which he prepares his advertising matter. In 1860, he got up 100,000 
almanacs for his agents to circulate, and he now sends out 1,500,000 annually. He 
consumes nearly fifty tons of printing-paper each year. 

" Wakefield's Almanac " is thus one of the best known of any of Bloomington's pub- 
lications. At the present time, this carries the name and fame of Bloomington over a 
wider area than any other medium. It is printed in the English, German, Nor- 
wegian and Swedish languages. 

This business is conducted in a straightforward, honorable manner, and is one of 
the instrumentalities by which our city is always favorably spoken of abroad. Such 
men as Dr. Wakefield are the ones who have built up the reputation of Bloomington ; 
and we are glad to see they are honored at home. He has always been one of our most 
liberal citizens, being among the foremost in all public enterprises. The amount of 
capital employed in the business, including the building, presses, engine, the stock of 
medicines on hand here, and the very large amount in the stores of his 6,000 agents is 
over S150,000. 

There are several manufactures of light articles such as brushes and overalls, and 
there are the usual variety of miscellaneous artificers to be found in our best Western, 
cities. It is probable that, in the line of these light manufactures, Bloomington will in. 
time become quite an important point. 

In past times, our distilling interest was quite important, but the building, which 
stood on the bank of Sugar Creek, west of the fair ground, was destroyed by fire 
several years ago and has not been rebuilt. 

The Bloomington Pork-Packing Company, now consisting of Van Schoick, Win- 
slow & Tryner, have been established since 1872. During the past season, they have 
packed over 13,000 hogs, and given employment to over forty men. They have very 
materially advanced the interests of Bloomington. This establishment is one of the 
most important in Central Illinois. 

We should also mention our breweries, which employ a large number of men. 
The tile-factory of N. B. Heafer & Co., situated in Bloomington Township, a mile 
southeast of the city, is one of our most important manufactories, and is rapidly extend- 
ing its business. It is one of the very few in the W^est with first-class facilities for dry- 
ing tile in the winter. 

Besides the establishments enumerated above, there are a large number equally 
deserving of mention, but space forbids. There are also a very large number of small 
shops and establishments that employ in the aggregate many men, including the usual. 



89 

variety of industries to be found in any city situated like this in a fine agricultural dis- 
trict. Taken altogether, we have quite large manufacturing interests in Bloomington, 
which seem likely to grow with the growth of the West. Our coal is as cheap as can 
be found, water is easily obtained, and we possess an industrious and energetic people. 
Several of our manufacturing establishments are spoken of in our chapter entitled — 
" Incorporated Companies." 

MILLS. 

The first mills in this locality were the old horse-mills, " corn-crackers " as they 
were called, followed or accompanied by the " nigger-head " horse-mills, for grinding 
wheat coarsely, which, when sifted, made a kind of flour, the " best to be had," and 
accepted as cheerfully as possible. Good flour was made only at distant water-mills, and 
Mr. James Allin and his associates in the new town of Bloomington, as late as 1832 and 
1833, longed for a good steam flour-mill. A wind-mill, owned by Gridley & Covel, 
located near the corner of Oak and Market, is mentioned as among the early institution® 
of Bloomington. Steam saw-mills were built here as early as 1835, several of which 
went the way of all saw-mills, upward in smoke. Steam grist-mills were not much more 
fortunate, several being burned from first to last. Among those burned, we will men- 
tion Myers' mill, on South Main street, and one owned by E. Rogers, which burned in 
1864, situated just east of the Illinois Central Depot. Bloomington can now boast as 
fine mills as any in the West. The total capacity of all our flour-mills is about three 
hundred and fifty barrels per day. 

•^ ^ •' FIRES. 

October 16, 1855, occurred a large fire, where Phoenix Block and other buildings 
now stand. It swept over nearly the whole square bounded by Front, Main, Wash- 
ington and Center streets. The loss was estimated at from $80,000 to $120,000. The 
McLean County Bank and the building adjoining, subsequently used by Dietrich & 
Bradner as a hardware store, both nearly new buildings at that time, were the only ones 
of importance that escaped. The four-story building now called Phoenix Block arose 
from the ashes very speedily. September 8, 1856, a fire occurred on Front street, 
which destroyed property to the value of $50,000. In September, 1871, a large fire 
consumed buildings on the east side of Main street, north ot North street, destroying 
property to the value of $60,000. October 31, 1867, the Chicago & Alton Railroad 
Shops burned, a loss to tHe Company of at least $100,000. During the year 1877, the 
city's entire loss by fire was only $9,885 ; insured for $9,305. 

PUBLIC DEBT. 

The following is an approximate statement of the debt of Bloomington : 

City Schools, about |100,000 

City, about 120,000 

Township, I., B. & W. Bonds, about 100,000 

Township, Lafayette, B. & M., about 94,000 

Township, .Jacksonville Branch, about 37,500 

Total $451,500 

From this there should be deducted a certain sum — whose value is unknown — 
being the amount of back taxes that will actually be paid, which will be large enough to 
justify the statement that the net debt of Bloomington, city, city school, and township, 
dues not much exceed $400,000, a sum that is large enough to be somewhat burdensome, 



90 

hut not so large as a "larger debt," to use Abraham Lincoln's homely illustration. 
May 1, 1867, the actual debt of Bloomington, exclusive of school debt, was only $6,497, 
but the votes for railroad aid taken in 1867, of themselves, added over $200,000 to the 
township and city debt in that year. 

SEWERS. 

When Bloomington was laid out, the low ground now known as the North Slough 
was properly named, it being wet and marshy, as was also the South Slough, now called 
Pone Hollow ; but these were at the time, so far from the village plat as to be thought 
valuable for drainage, and were considered a long distance out of town. But the city 
spread itself in all directions, soon overleaped these obstacles, and then went back and 
occupied the low land, now become dry ground, through which meandered a little stream, 
with a deep bed and high banks. These water-courses have cut so deep that they have 
been sufficient to carry off the water without overflow, ever since the wet season of 1858. 
The land adjacent has been closely occupied by residences and manufactories for many 
years. The city has now commenced to build a sewer through each of these tracts. 
The northern one is now completed from Main street, nearly to its western outlet at the 
main branch, and the southern one has been commenced. When these are finished, our 
whole city will be of equal value for building purposes. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

The Court House will be spoken of in the history of the county, and we will 
merely mention here that it is one of the best in the State, was commenced in 1868, 
and cost entire, furniture, sewer, heating apparatus, iron- fence, sidewalk and all, in the 
neighborhood of |400,000. Prices were then very high, and it ij? probable the same 
would now cost about $250,000. The Jail is at the corner of Market and Center 
streets, and was erected in 1857. It should at once be replaced by a more suitable 
structure. The city owns two steam fire-engine houses, which answer all purposes, but 
are not particularly ornamental. During the year 1878, the new City Hall was erected at 
the corner of North and East streets ; total cost, building and lot, was about $14,000. 
It is a fine-looking structure, considering its small cost, and will be used as a City Hall 
and City Prison. The public school-buildings will be described elsewhere. They are 
the most important of the public buildings owned by the city. The Wesleyan Univer- 
sity, which may be considered as a public building, is really the most beautiful structure 
in Bloomington. 

INCORPORATED COMPANIES. 

Bloomington has never organized as large a number of incorporated companies as 
many Western towns have done in the past. There have been several failures, and there 
are several companies now in existence ; but, as a rule, our citizens have not depended 
on " by-laws " and " charters " for aid. There was a Bloomington Fire Insurance Com- 
pany, which comprised our best citizens, and was honorably and fairly conducted ; but, 
after doing business from 1867 down to 1870, it honorably withdrew from the field. 
We ought to mention the Bloomington & Normal Railroad Company, which has been 
of great benefit to the two cities connected, but never a paying venture to the company. 
The line was built in 1867, and its total cost has been about $60,000. 

The Bloomington Manufacturing Company, which purchased Flagg's factory in 
1865, after a successful general business, was succeeded in August, 1873, by the 



91 

Bloomington Furniture Manufacturing Company. This company has about sixty-five 
men in its shops, and furnishes employment to over one hundred men, women and 
children in this city who take materials to their homes ; while it sends abroad enough 
more to different reformatory institutions to keep busy about seventy-five persons. The 
work sent out of the factory is the caning of the seats and backs of chairs, of which this 
firm makes about fifty different patterns. It manufactures over thirty-five thousand 
chairs per annum, consuming about two hundred and fifty thousand feet of black wal- 
nut lumber, much of which comes from the groves of McLean County. Its capital is 
$60,000. This company is of great assistance to the laboring people of Bloomington, 
among whom it disburses about $100 per day. Though the wages paid for outside 
work seems small, it must be remembered that most of those employed have no other 
avenue of employment open, and would otherwise remain idle. The President of the 
company is Peter Whitmer ; Secretary and Manager, I. P. Fell, who has been in office 
ever since 1873. The Directors are P. Whitmer, K. H. Fell, E. B. Steere, B. F. 
Hoopes, P. Folsom, C. Wakefield and I. R. Krura. This company has been a success 
from the start, and appears to demonstrate Bloomington's ability to carry on manufact- 
uring at a profit. 

The People's Bank is another successful company, which has built one of the finest 
buildings in the city. It has stood all the financial storms of the past ten years, and is 
strong in the confidence of the community. Peter Whitmer is the President, and 
William Ollis, Cashier. 

The National Bank of Bloomington was organized soon after the passage of the 
national banking act, on the 23d of January, 1865, and has been in operation ever 
since. It is the successor of the Bank of Bloomington, which was organized in 1857, 
an institution with a proud record, having withstood the severe crash in 1861, and 
maintained its notes at par with gold. Its present President is D. M. Funk ; Cashier, 
E. Thorpe. Among the stockholders of this bank in the past we find the names of 
Isaac Funk, David Davis, J. H. Robinson, W. W. Orme and others well known in 
Bloomington history. Mr. Thorpe has been its Cashier ever since its organization as 
a national bank. Capital stock of the bank, $150,000 ; surplus and undivided profits, 
about $195,000, making the entire banking capital $345,000. 

The National State Bank was started in the summer of 1878. Capital, $50,000. 
President, Frank Hoblitt ; Vice President, Jacob Funk ; Cashier, A. B. Hoblitt. 

These three banks are incorporated, while the McLean County Bank, and that of 
T. J. Bunn & Co., are private banks or partnerships. The entire banking capital of 
the city is estimated at nearly $1,000,000. 

We can add to these the Bloomington Stove Company, which was organized in 
1870, and has been one of the most successful institutions of the place. Its President 
is Dwight Harwood ; Superintendent, W. P. Brophy, Its stoves are sold all over the 
West, being of the most approved patterns, of one hundred and fifteen different styles. 
The company has in its employ fi'om thirty to sixty persons, according to the season. 
Its factory is located in the northwest part of the city, in the township of Normal. 
The Empire Machine Works are also within the limits of the town of Normal, though 
generally classed as belonging to Bloomington. 

The Bloomington Gas-light and Coke Company was incorporated in 1855 ; works 
were soon erected, and by the year 1857, a street was lighted extending all the way 



92 

from the Illinois Central to the Chicago & Alton Depot, the latter then being near the 
machine-shops, north of the crossing of Chestnut street. There were also a few lamps 
around the public square. In 1867, the gas works at the corner of Market and Oak 
streets were abandoned, and entirely new ones built at the present location. Gen. A. 
Gridley had then become sole owner. He constructed very permanent buildings, 
extended the gas mains in every direction, and used every honorable means to induce 
the City Council to establish lamps on all well-settled streets. There are now about 
twenty miles of streets upon which there are gas-mains, and the city possesses about four 
hundred street lamps. Bloomington is a remarkably well lighted city. ^ 

CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS. 

Few of the rising generation have any idea of the excitement that ran through 
the country at the time of the " gold fever " of 1849 and 1850. For a long series of 
years — more than twelve — the nation had been passing through a period of the most 
terrible financial depression. Money had become almost an unknown quantity, and 
people had about settled into despondency, when suddenly the wonderful stories of the 
gold discoveries in California flashed through the land. As soon as the truth was ascer- 
tained, and it was known that immense quantities of gold had been found, and it was 
seen that a new empire was to be founded on the Pacific Coast, the rush of adventure- 
ous spirits was sudden and enormous. Bloomington — always ready to make a move 
as quick as any other part of the world — sent a large company in the summer of 1849, 
who, with teams and outfits mostly gathered here, went the whole distance overland — a 
toilsome, tedious journey of several months duration. 

Among those who went in 1849, we have the names of Col. J. H. Wickizer, Levi 
Hite, Asa Lillie, Solomon D. Baker, Joseph Duncan, Hiram Baker, Samuel Ashton, J. 
Jackson, John M. Loving, Daniel B. Robinson, John Greenman, S. A. Adams and 
John Walker. Out of this number there are now living here in Bloomington, Col. J. 
H. Wickizer, John M. Loving and John Walker. S. A. Adams lives in Missouri ; S. 
D. Baker in Virginia City, and Joseph Duncan in San Francisco ; John Greenman, 
Capt. D. B. Robinson, Hiram Baker and Levi Hite are dead. 

On the first of March, 1850, a very large company left Bloomington for Califor- 
nia, made up in part from the adjoining towns. At St. Joseph, Mo., they organized 
in military shape for protection against Indians ; there were about twenty-five wagons, 
and nearly one hundred men. Hugh Taylor was chosen Captain. The company had 
tolerably good luck until they nearly reached the gold-fields, when some of them were 
destitute, and their teams were badly worn down ; but on the whole it was a successful 
journey. 

From Bloomington there were John D. Clark, Green B. Larrison, Lyman Ferre, 
Carey Barney, M. W. Packard, Hugh Taylor, William Hodge, J. R. Murphy, E. Parke, 
Robert Barnett, Robert L. Baker, John Owen, Isaac Strain, Dr. G. Elkins, William 
Elkins, W. P. Withers, T. S. Howard, Jesse Isgrig, W. Isgrig, Elijah Ellis, Lee AUin, 

F. M. Rockhold, E. Henry. Of these, there are now living in Bloomington or vicinity, 

G. B. Larrison, Lyman Ferre, M. W. Packard, Isaac Strain, J. R. Murphy, Lee Allin 
and Robert Barnett. Capt. W. P. Withers lives in Missouri ; T. S. Howard in Iowa, 
and Carey Barney in California. It is a remarkable fact that but two or three of the 
whole number made even a moderate fortune in California ; but the most of those wha 



93 

returned to Bloomington have been very successful. These veterans of the plains can 
tell of some remarkable adventures. 

REMARKABLE WEATHER. 

Those who find enough of interest in the state of the weather to furnish daily 
themes for conversation as they meet casual acquaintances, will do well to read this 
chapter, and forever after refrain from the common unmeaning remarks they so often drop 
in regard to the " remarkable weather we are now enjoying." The " Deep Snow," the 
"Sudden Freeze," and the "Great Hurricane" which the early settlers witnessed stand 
out in bold relief as the most wonderful phenomena of the times. 

The great hurricane came on the 27th day of June, 1827, or, as given by several 
authorities, on the 19th of June. It struck Old Town Timber with fearful severity, and 
leveled large tracts of heavy timber. There were then no settlers on the prairie, 
no villages or cities to be leveled, no church-spires to be demolished, or the record of loss 
and damage would be larger. Some injury is recorded in Blooming Grrove, where small 
tracts of timber were leveled. 

The fall of 1830 or 1831, was remarkably mild. Tobacco sprouts are said not to 
have been killed until December 2, which, if correct, indicates a wonderful state of 
affairs, as this plant is one of the most tender raised in this latitude. 

December 29, 1830, occurred the heaviest fall of snow ever known in the West 
The first snow was nearly three feet deep, and there were more than a dozen storms sub- 
sequently. The full depth appears to have been about forty inches on a level, and this 
when several snows had fallen and become so compacted that in many places the crust 
would bear a man. The deer broke through, and wolves chased and caught them 
frequently, a very unusual circumstance. It was impossible for the pioneers to travel, 
and families caught without provisions suffered severely. In some settlements the supply 
of corn and hay \\%s so small that cattle starved, it being impossible to move food any 
distance. Much of the stock was kept alive by felling trees, and the stock subsisted on 
the branches. Most families lived on meal obtained by pounding corn by hand. There 
were a few of the settlers who were caught away from home, and who nearly lost their 
lives in the toilsome homeward journeys. 

The pioneers in Blooming Grove did not suffer much, but were compelled to keep 
indoors most of the time. Blooming Grove was then old enough to furnish plenty of 
provisions for such a siege, but those living in detached settlements, particularly new 
comers in small communities, suffered severely. When the snow w^nt off, after about 
six weeks of intense cold, the streams were remarkably high, considerably higher, in all 
probability, than they have ever been since that event. It is probable that a similar winter 
now would cause immense suffering. Our prairie towns could not obtain coal, or even 
flour and groceries, as in such a case the railroads would be totally unable to keep open 
for business. 

A few extracts from experiences related in Prof Duis' " Good Old Times in 
McLean County " will illustrate the hardships caused by the " Deep Snow." From 
Robert Guthrie's statement, page 192, we quote the following: 

The winter of ]8o0-31 is remembered as the winter of the deep snow. Thvee days 
before the snow began falling, Mr. Guthrie and Frederick Trimmer started for .St. Louis with 
teams and wagons to haul goods for .lames Allin, who had opened a small store where Bloom- 
ington now is. 'Ihey intended to be gone only ten days or two weeks, but they did not see their 



94 

families again for five weeks. They were obliged to leave their goods, wagons and Mr. Guthrie's 
oxen about fifteen miles the other side of Sprinj^field, and came through with Mr. Trimmer's 
horses to break the way. During this time, their families were in a state of anxious suspense, 
and were obliged to live on boiled corn ; indeed, during the whole winter, they had very little 
to eat except pounded meal. During that winter, Mr. Guthrie sent his children to school, 
though they had to work their way for a mile through snow that reached nearly to their necks ; 
but when it became packed, they walked over the crust. 

From the same work, page 219, we quote the words of one of our pioneers, who 
is now living in the city : 

Jonathan Maxson states that during the winter of the deep snow (1830), he and his 
brother went out where it did not drift nor blow away and took a careful measurement of the 
depth of the snow with a stick and found it four feet deep. During the early part of that terri- 
ble winter, deer were very numerous, but when the deep snow came they were starved and were 
hunted by famished wolves and by settlers with snow-shoes until they were almost exterminated. 
Shortly after the snow fell, Mr. Jesse Hiatt killed a very large deer, which he was unable to 
carry home. He buried it in the snow and covered it with his coat to keep the wolves away. 
But the snow afterward fell so deep tliat he was unable to visit the spot for two weeks. At last, 
he put a harness on one of his horses and went to drag it home. On his return with the deer, he 
killed three others and attached them also to his horse ; but the load was so hard to drag that he 
did not return until late at night, when he found the frightened neighbors collected at his house, 
about to start on a search for him. They had collected on horseback with trumpets and horns 
and various things with which to make unearthly noises, and were, no doubt, disappointed to 
find that there was no occasion for their fearful shrieks. The remainder of the night was spent 
in dressing the deer. 

Some of their neighbors caught deer alive by putting on snow-shoes and running them 
down ; but, toward the latter part of the winter, they were so poor and emaciated that they were 
hardly worth catching. 

The fall of meteors November 14, 1836, though not exactly coming under this head, 
will be mentioned here. It was a wonderful, sight. The heavens were full of shooting 
stars and meteoric phenomena, which, when witnessed by people living in scattered 
settlements, may well have caused a feeling of awe, wonder and astonishment. 

December 14, 1836, occurred a very sudden change of weather. From a mild, 
thawy condition of the atmosphere, with the thermometer standing about forty degrees 
above, the change was almost instantaneous to twenty degrees below zero. The wind 
came from the northwest, with a howl and a roar, a perfect moving wall i^f cold, with its 
edges apparently square and perpendicular. It traveled at the rate of about thirty 
miles per hour. People were caught on the prairies at various distances from shelter, 
and quite a number of persons perished, some of them but a short distance from home. 
Cattle, hogs, and even wild animals were frozen to death. It is evident, from the accounts 
we have of the effects of the cold, that the thermometer fell much more than twenty 
degrees below zero, but we have no records of the degree of cold experienced. In mod- 
ern times, we have read of changes almost as remarkable, in Iowa and Minnesota, but 
none that will compare with this for suddenness. The people living in those States call 
these storms "blizzards," a terra not invented in 1836. Our sudden freeze must have 
thrown a chill over the frontier such as we can hardly imagine. 

June 23, 1837, a fall of snow surprised our pioneers. It was heavy enough to 
make the green-leaved trees look white, but no damage resulted. 

November 7, 1842, there was another remarkable, sudden freeze, but, while start- 
ling in itself, it was not to be compared with its predecessor in 1836. 



95 

The year 184^4 is known to Western history as the wet season. It rained nearlj 
all summer, only ceasing late in August, and crops were very light indeed. Traveling 
was a constant succession of wading and swimming, as most of the streams were desti-^ 
tute of bridges. This was the year when the river was so high at St. Louis, and when 
the old town of Kaskaskia was nearly ruined by the overflow. Those of our pioneers 
who remained at home did not suffer particularly, except from the annoyances incident 
to constant mud and moisture. 

One day in 1848, the thermometer was twenty-six degrees below zero, and the day 
after, thirty below. 

The summer of 1854 will long be remembered as the " dry season," almost as long 
as that of 1844 will be spoken of for its opposite characteristic. Sugar Creek went 
entirely dry ; wells dried up all over the city ; water was purchased by many people, 
and at one time it began to be feared that Bloomington would not be able to obtain a 
supply. People traveling through the country often suffered with their teams before 
they could obtain water, and cattle ran wild with thirst, rushing to the Mackinaw and 
streams that were not exhausted, like droves of demons. Some of our citizens con- 
ceived the idea of artesian wells, and efforts were made in that direction, but none of 
them gave any encouragement. 

January 9, 1856, was remarkably cold, the thermometer being twenty-eight 
degrees below zero. There were several intensely cold days during the winter, some of 
them having followed soon after warm weather, and thus causing the death of apple 
and peach trees all through this region. All the peach-trees were killed down to their 
roots, and many whole orchards of apple-trees were entirely, others partially, ruined. 

The summer of 1858, was another wet season — nearly as bad as that of 1844. 
McLean County suffered very severely during that summer, as wheat and corn both were 
injured. Wheat was killed the winter previous, and as at this time, the whole county was 
raising winter wheat — induced by the high prices of the Crimea war — it happened that 
great financial distress was caused by the unfavorable yield of both wheat and corn. 

June 7, 1859, a severe cold spell formed ice in Sloomington one-eighth of an 
inch thick. The frost cut all the corn to the ground and killed the young leaves on 
hickory and other forest trees. The corn crop was supposed to be ruined, but, fortu- 
nately, the weather was so favorable that late-planted corn matured finely. The largest 
and earliest of the crop was the most injured, that which had just come out of the 
ground at the time of the frost or that which was only two inches high, came up from 
the roots again and went forward at once. Some of the early corn was six inches high 
and was, of course ruined. Most of the youngest corn that was left to nature came on 
better than that which was replanted, and there was a fair crop. 

The year 1863, is noted as the one in which there was frost every month in the 
summer. In August, a very heavy frost destroyed much of the corn, and in September, 
another ruined most of that which had escaped in August. Owing to this cause and 
the war demand, the price of corn ran up to $1.15 a bushel in Bloomington before the 
next crop was harvested. 

January 1, 1864, occurred a terrible snowstorm. The wind blew a perfect gale 
from the northwest, and at the same time a heavy fi\ll of light snow filled the air and 
made travel almost impossible. The thermometer was twenty degrees below zero 
during the storm and it continued as cold for the next two days. Cattle and sheep gave 



96 

I 
•up to the fury of the storm, drifted away before the wind and large numbers of sheep 

lost their lives. The railroads were blockaded, the Chicago & Alton trains not being 

able to pass from Springfield to Bloomington for three days, nor from Bloomington to 

Joliet for eight or nine days. 

The great sleet of January 13, 1871, was an event that should be noted. The 
forest trees around Bloomington and the shrubbery in private yards were irreparably 
injured. The sleet was equivalent to more than an inch of rain. Telegraph poles 
were broken, and in many cases all the large limbs broke from trees. Nearly one-third 
of the foliage-bearing branches were thus crushed ; whole trees fell down and the dam- 
age to our fruit and shade trees is still plainly visible. 

In the winter of 1873, during an intensely cold spell, when the thermometer had 
fallen about twenty degrees below zero, the wind changed in the night to the south, and, 
for a few hours, there was most a remarkably low temperature, with a high south 
wind. At one time, the thermometer was from twenty-six to thirty-two degrees below 
aero, according to the instrument and its exposure. 

The winter of 1877 and 1878, will long be remembered on account of its extreme 
mildness. At no time was the ice in the vicinity of Bloomington over three inches in 
thickness. The entire winter was about as mild as average April weather. Rains 
were frequent, often very heavy, and, before the 1st of January, the roads were impassa- 
ble, and remained so from about January 1 to the middle of March. Business of all 
kinds was nearly suspended, and a general gloom pervaded the community. 

The following winter was just the reverse. Snow fell early in December, followed 
by fifteen inches of level snow on the 13th of December, which remained for nearly 
six weeks. The sleighing was the best ever known, and was enjoyed to the fullest 
extent. Washington street was, by general consent, given up to the fast-stepping 
horses for which Bloomington is so famous, and was crowded with gay and happy 
parties every afternoon — often as many as fifty-five teams being visible at one time. 
Near the close of the sleighing season, on the 11th of January, 1879, there was a grand 
sleighing carnival, or free ride, for all the children of the city, participated in by nearly 
three thousand. It was a sight long to be remembered. There were over two hundred 
sleighs, of all sorts and sizes, many of them gayly decorated with flags and streamers. 
Thousands of spectators lined the streets, and the excitement and enthusiasm were both 
novel and pleasant. 

Our list will close with the mention of the five cold mornings in January, 1879. 
January 2, the thermometer was twenty degrees below zero ; on the 3d, twenty-eight ; 
on the 4th, seventeen ; on the 5th, twenty ; and on the 6th, ten degrees below — mak- 
ing, probably, five of the coldest days ever known in such close connection. 

EVENTS DURING THE WAR. 

Bloomington is entitled to rank with the most patriotic cities in the land. It can 
show a proud record from the time when its citizens volunteered to aid the settlers of 
the exposed northern frontiers of Illinois to the last day of the civil war. Its list of 
heroes must be included in the county's record, as there is no way of fairly separating 
the city from the county ; but it is proper that we mention some of the stirring events 
that took place in the city itself. 

When Fort Sumter was fired on, and the President's call for volunteers appeared, 
in April, 1861, our city was not behind the rest of the land in its readiness to respond, 



97 

A public meeting was held at once, when speeches were made that gave evidence of the 
patriotic feelings of the people. The enthusiasm for the old flag was deep and earnest. 
Cheers, shouts and excitement abounded. Volunteers were called for, and in an 
incredibly short time, a company was raised for the three-months service called for, 
largely made up of energetic, enthusiastic young men from this city. In three or four 
days, the company left for Springfield, under Capt. Harvey, and it served its time at Cairo. 

As soon as this company was full, several other companies were at once organized, 
For a few days it seemed as if every able-bodied man would volunteer. Four or five 
companies were drilling daily, made up from all classes of citizens. Had the Govern- 
ment been able to take all the troops ofiered, there is no doubt that at least six hundred 
men would have enlisted at once, in the month of May, from Bloomington alone. The 
day that the first company, under Capt. Harvey, left town, and also the day of their 
return from Cairo, are memorable events. On both occasions, the streets were literally 
crowded with spectators. The first was a time of the deepest and most poignant afllic- 
tion ; the last was a season of joy and gratitude. These two events were repeated over 
and over again during the next few years ; but never were equaled in intensity of feel- 
ing, except on the days of the leaving and returning of the entire McLean County 
regiment — the Ninety- fourth Illinois Volunteers — which left August 25, 1862, and 
returned August, 9, 1865. 

August 26, 1861, about three hundred of the men of the Thirty-third Illinois 
Regiment left this city and county for Springfield, and again was there leave-taking and 
patriotic excitement in our streets. This regiment included one company (A) of students 
from Normal, and one company made up largely from Bloomington. The latter was 
Cotnpany C, of which E. R. Roe was Captain. Roe edited the Democratic Statesman 
at the time. He was soon promoted, and his place was filled by Capt. E. J. Lewis, who 
enlisted in the company as a private soldier. Lewis edited the Pantagrapli at the time 
the war broke out, served with great credit until the close of the war, and again edited 
the same paper for five or six years after his return. 

It was noticed, as the war became an old story, that the departure of troops grew 
to be more and more an individual matter, left by the public mainly to those interested 
— the departing soldier and his intimate friends and relatives ; but at the close, every 
•detachment that returned was welcomed most enthusiastically. 

The excitement caused by the destruction, in August, 1862, of the Bloomington 
Times^ a sheet with Southern sympathies too strong for this latitude, was most intense. 
The soldiers of the Ninety-fourth Regiment performed this job, aided by uncontrollable 
spirits who were willing to assist when sure that the blame or praise would be awarded 
to the departing volunteers. 

On the 2d of September, 1862, a dispatch was received from Springfield at about 
midnight, calling for 200 men, instantly, to guard a large detachment of rebels stationed 
at Camp Butler. The fire-bells were rung; the public responded; the state of the 
case explained ; the required number was enlisted in a few hours, and a little after day- 
light made their appearance at Springfield, creating the utmost astonishment at the 
patriotic promptitude with which our citizens volunteered. Old men, boys and cripples 
went on this expedition as readily as the able-bodied. It appeared some one at Spring- 
field had an idea the rebel prisoners might make an attempt to escape, and relied on 
Bloomington's well-known habit of prompt and instantaneous action, to call together, 



98 

suddenly, a force that should overawe the prisoners who had been carelessly left with 
too small a guard. 

During the early part of the year 1862, several soldiers' funerals took place at 
Bloomington, stirring the city to its very heart. Among the most noted, we may men- 
tion that of Lieut. Joseph Gr. Howell, who had enlisted at the first call in 1861, resign- 
ing his place as Principal of the Model School at Normal. He was a noble young man, 
with troops of warm friends. He was killed at Fort Donelson, Capt. Harvey, killed 
a little later, at Pittsburg Landing, was honored with a public funeral, and the city was 
plunged in grief once more. We should also mention Col. Hogg's and Col. William 
McCullough's funerals, and others. 

Immense sums were given in aid of the families of soldiers in the early part of 
the war; but later, the public sympathy was mainly directed through the Sanitary Com- 
mission, to the assistance of those in the field. In 1864, as much as $10,000 was sent 
in money in one donation, of which Isaac Funk gave $5,000. There was a constant 
stream of charity pouring in this direction, whose dimensions in the aggregate must 
have been magnificent. 

At the Presidential election, in 1864, there was tremendous excitement. Many of 
the soldiers were at home ; some discharged for disability, others by expiration of three 
years' enlistment, and many were at home on furlough. These were well aware that 
during the whole time of their absence there had been a "fire in the rear ; " and from 
a variety of causes, great feeling was manifested. At that time, the whole township of 
Bloomington, polling 1,774 votes, had one voting place — the old jail-building, on 
the northwest corner of the Court House square. The election, after all, was one of 
the quietest on record, though probably one-third of the voters carried pistols, ready for 
any outbreak that might occur. The Judges of the election were A. B. Ives, John 
Dawson and J. H. Burnham. In spite of the rapidity with which they were obliged 
to decide all cases of challenged votes, their decisions were acquiesced in by the leading 
men of both parties most cheerfully, and their feat of taking votes at the rate of three 
per minute, at a time of such a hot contest, can scarcely be paralleled. Mr. Lincoln 
had a majority of about six hundred in the township of Bloomington. 

During the winter of 1864, Company K of the Twenty-sixth Illinois Regiment 
of which Gen. I. J. Bloomfield was the Captain, returned to this county on " veteran 
furlough," and were kindly welcomed by the citizens of Bloomington. 

On the 14th of March, 1864, the entire Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteers 
arrived at Bloomington on their "veteran furlough," on their way from Texas to their 
diff'erent homes in Illinois. 

There were over four hundred of these heroes, of whom quite a number were from 
Bloomington. The citizens gave them a warm-hearted reception at Royce Hall, which 
was unlocked for by the veterans, and was a fitting tribute to the brave men who so 
nobly continued in the service of the country. This class of soldiers, entitled to more 
praise than any other, have generally been treated like ordinary volunteers. Now the 
fact is, they really stand the highest in the list of the nation's defenders. Their vol- 
unteering in the face of danger, after three years' service, was convincing proof to the 
rebels that they never could succeed in their undertaking. 

The day before the Presidential election, in 1864, large bodies of suspicious look- 
ing men came from Southern Illinois to this city, and changed cars for Chicago. James 



99 

Allin, Jr., then Postmaster, telegraphed the circumstances to John Wentworth and 
others, and the result was, that the men were arrested before they reached the city. It 
afterward transpired that they were concerned in the famous plot to rescue the rebel 
prisoners at Camp Douglas, and the dispatch from Bloomington was one of the indica- 
tions that proved something unusual was being attempted. 

In the early part of the war, it seemed that the volunteers paid little attention to 
filling the muster-rolls correctly, and it often happened that nearly a whole company 
would be credited to Bloomington, when, in fact, it was raised in the county at large. 
Besides this, all who lived in three or four of the adjacent townships whose post-office 
addresses were at Bloomington, were generally credited as residents, and the result was 
that the city's quota was more than filled. When the first draft was threatened in 
McLean County, in 1864, it was discovered that Bloomington's quota was already made 
up, and a good deal of bad feeling resulted. " By a liberal county bounty, and the gen- 
eral co-operation of the citizens of both city and county, the first draft was avoided. 
February or March, 1865, the last draft barely touched a few districts in McLean 
County. Most of the towus, as well as the wards in Bloomington raised liberal 
subscriptions, which, in addition to the county bounty, proved effectual. In Blooming- 
ton, out of a good many thousand dollars raised, quite a large proportion, in some of 
the wards, was returned to the subsci'ibers. 

The news of peace, or rather the surrender of Gen. Lee, the capture of Jeff Davis 
and the surrender of Gen. Joe Johnston — the whole equivalent to a declaration of 
peace — caused intense satisfaction and extravagant rejoicing in the same manner as 
Union victories had done previously. The usual way was for a few men to run around 
the public square, call for a collection, buy some powder, which Pres. Butler would burn 
in his cannon, while the boys would join in a general rejoicing. Sometimes we fired a 
little too soon, or the news would turn out to be unimportant, but we kept up the prac- 
tice till the news of the last surrender. 

In those days, the Associated Press dispatches usually arrived at the Pantagraph 
office a little before noon, and any very special news was printed speedily on slips of 
paper and sold by boys as " extras." On the morning after the assassination of Presi- 
dent Lincoln, J. H. Burnham, editor of the Bloomington Pantagraph, was at 
Chicago. He saw the news in the morning paper there, and knew at once that the 
Pantagraph could not possibly have the dispatch. He went to the telegraph office 
before it opened, and sent the first dispatch of the morning, telling his paper, over his 
own signature, in about sixty words, the terrible news. This was known on the streets 
of Bloomington at about 9 o'clock, and it caused intense grief and astonishment. Mr. 
Lincoln was known and loved in Bloomington as well as anywhere else in the world, and 
for several hours, grief, anger and revenge swayed the public, crowds of people being in 
the streets, discussing the sad event, h. man of the name of John Hinzey, boarding 
at the Ashley, was heard to rejoice over Mr. Lincoln's death, and thoughtlessly 
applauded, or was understood to applaud the assassin. When this was reported on the 
streets, the whole mass seemed carried away by frenzy, aad at once moved toward the 
Ashley House to take out the offender to be hanged. His life was in such danger 
that it was only saved by the stratagem of a few of the cooler heads, who organized a 
committee to give him a trial, to which the crowd consented, and while this was going 
on, Mr. Hinzey was hustled into a carriage, several blocks west of the hotel, having 



100 

been passed out in disguise at the rear, and he was driven raj^idly toward Peoria. In a 
few hours after his escape, the crowd became glad it had not taken human life. 

FREEMASONS. 

As it takes many people to make a world, so various methods for doing good have 
been organized, and will be carried on till the end of time. One of the oldest, and, 
perhaps, one of the most permanent, of the different orders or societies that we can men- 
tion, is that of Freemasonry. This Order was established in Bloomington at an early 
day. In 1847, Peoria Lodge recommended the application for a new lodge in Bloom- 
ington. The first meeting of Bloomington Lodge, No. 43, was March 1, 1847. Its 
first Master was John Foster. The first member admitted was W. C. Hobbs, who 
became the second Master, and, afterward, was Master of the Grand Lodge, being the 
only member from Bloomington who has ever attained this distinction. Dr. Hobbs was 
one of the leading citizens of Bloomington from this time down to the time of his 
death, February 10, 1861. He was, perhaps, the most genial, the kindest-hearted, 
most generally useful man who has ever lived in Bloomington. The Masters of this 
Lodge who followed Dr. Hobbs were E. Thomas, M. C. Baker, John M. Scott, Good- 
man Ferre and others. The Masonic Order has always included a large proportion of 
leading citizens, making it one of our " institutions " of merit, and it has accomplished 
a vast amount of good. There are three lodges, all meeting on different nights in one 
hall, which, since 1877, has been in the upper part of the fine building at the corner of 
Center and Front streets, where may be found one of the most completely fitted lodge- 
rooms in the State. Besides the three lodges ol" inferior degrees, there are two or 
more of the higher, made up mostly of those who belong to the lower lodges, of which 
we will mention the Chapter of Rojal Arch Masons and the Commandery of Knights 
Templar. Bloomington Chapter, No. 26, Royal Arch March Masons, was organized 
March 19, 1855. Its leading officers are : High Priest, J. Brewster ; Treasurer, Good- 
man Ferre, and its Secretary is John D. Fowle. 

De Molay Commandery, No. 24, was constituted October 22, 1867. Its officers are 
Charles F. Webb, Eminent Commander; James Clark, Generalissimo; William M. 
Stevenson, Captain General; Jabez Brewster, Treasurer, and J. D. Fowle, Recorder. 
These Knights are well drilled, and make a fine appearance when seen in public. 

Bloomington Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, held its first meeting, as we have 
stated above, March 1, 1847. Its present officers are W. R. Bascom, Master; Thomas 
W. Stevenson, Senior Warden ; Michael Gee, Junior Warden ; N. N. Winslow, Treas- 
urer; Charles Strehorn, Secretary. The Lodge has about two hundred members. 

Wade Barney Lodge was organized August 8, 1866. and now contains 123 mem- 
bers. Its Master is L. L. Burr; Senior Warden, C. W. Kirk; Junior Warden, A. M. 
Goodfellow; Treasurer, J. E. Eastman; Secretary, C. J. Northrop. 

Mozart Lodge, No. 656, is composed of Germans, and contains about forty mem- 
bers. It was organized in October, 1870. This Lodge transacts all business in the 
German language. 

Closely allied with Masonry is the Order of the Eastern Star, composed of Free- 
masons, their wives and daughters. Bloomington Chapter, No. 4, was organized Janu- 
ary 1, 1870. Worthy Patron, W. C. Stevenson; Worthy Matron, Mrs. A. Kettle; 
Treasurer, Mrs. W. Stevenson; Secretary, Mrs. E. C. Roberts. There are 110 members. 



101 



INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. 



There is perhaps no more systematic charity than is dispensed through the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. This society is peculiarly fortunate in Bloomington, having 
been established at an early day, and its first members being men of high moral aims ; 
their successors have followed in the way first marked out by the original members, 
have always kept the ancient landmarks well in sight, and have attained great proficiency 
in all the proper work of the Order. 

Remembrance Lodge, No. 77, was organized October 20, 1851. Among its charter 
members we find the names of H. S. Herr and William Nightwine. John M. Scott 
was initiated the same night the Lodge was instituted, and has with the above-named 
continued a member until the present time. 

Several of those most prominent in the Grand Lodge of this jurisdiction have been 
members of Remembrance Lodge, among whom we will mention H. S. Herr and Thomas 
F. Mitchell, both of whom have been Grand Ofiicers. Mr. Mitchell has been delegate 
to the National Grand Lodge, where he was one of the most active and efficient representa- 
tives. The present Noble Grand of Remembrance Lodge is C. S. Strayer ; Vice Grand, 

C. M. Ross ; Recording Secretary, Amos Kemp ; Permanent Secretary, L. B. Elledge ; 
Robert Thompson, is Treasurer, a position he has filled for twenty years. Evergreen 
City Lodge, No. 265, was instituted September 30, 1858. Its present number of mem- 
bers is 100. Its Noble Grand is George T. Heritage; Vice Grand, E. Huhn ; Record- 
ing Secretary, F. B. Augustus ; Permanent Secretary, H. J. Higgins ; Treasurer, Peter 
Rockwell. 

Uhland Lodge, No. 305, was organized July 1, 1863. Its charter is in the Ger- 
man language, and its meetings are all conducted in German, and its membership made 
up of that nationality. A. Schlegel is Noble Grand ; Fred. Kersten, Vice Grand ; H. 
Moratz, Recording Secretary ; W. D. Penner, Financial Secretary and William A. Ger- 
ken, Treasurer ; Representative to Grand Lodge, Charles Lamp. 

McLean Encampment, No. 29, was organized April 11, 1855. It contains at 
present about seventy- five members. This Lodge is made up from members of the other 
lodges, being a higher degree of the same Order. William McComb is C. P.; George 
T. Heritage, H. P.; Charles Lamp, S. W.; A. C. Atkins, Scribe ; R. Thompson, Treas- 
urer. Remembrance Lodge owns a business house, next to the northeast corner of Main 
and Washington streets. It was purchased in 1878, at a cost of nearly $10,000. This 
purchase was made from the permanent funds of the Lodge, and shows a financial stand- 
ing that is to be commended. The amount of funds on hand in the difierent lodges of 
the Order amounts to about $14,000. This money is a revenue to be used in case the 
annual dues shall not be equal to the demands of its members who may happen to be 
sick or disabled, and indicates a flattering degree of prosperity. 

Many of the wives of Odd Fellows, with their husbands, are members of the Order 
of the Degree of Rebecca. Bethlehem Lodge, No. 32, was incorporated November 11, 
1870, though a lodge was in existence previously. Its Noble Grand is Oliver Beebe ; 
Vice Grand, Mrs. Nelson Taylor ; Mrs. E. R. Hallett is Recording Secretary ; Mr. W. 

D. Hallett is the Permanent Secretary ; the Treasurer is Mrs. William J. Harrill. 
There are seventy-five members. 



102 

Abraham Lincoln Lodge, No. 85, of the Degree of Rebecca, meets at the hall in 
Liberty Block. These Rebecca Lodges are mainly for social purpose?, though there are 
some obligations and duties imposed upon the members. 

VARIOUS SECRET SOCIETIES. 

One of the most important of our secret organizations is the Knights of Pythias, 
which meets at 112 and 114 South Main street, in Liberty Block. It contains 109 
members. Richard Osborne, P. C. ; M. B. Jeter, C. C ; J. E. Espey, V. C. ; C. D. 
Myers, Prelate ; William Van Schoieh, M. of E., and Frank Johnson, Jr., M. of F. 
Its Trustees are J. W. Fifer, J. W. Trotter and Dr. C. R. Karr. Whenever this 
society appears in public in uniform, it invariably attracts great attention, the appear- 
ance of its members being highly indicative of discipline and good fellowship. 

The " Universal Brotherhood " organized Lodge No. 4 in Bloomington, February 
3, 1878, about which time representatives from all over the United States met here to 
perfect their organization. This institution is of a fraternal nature, and its main feat- 
ure is insurance, its policies being at the members' option, in sums varying from $500 
to $5,000. The Order in this State has been incorporated as the "Grand Command- 
ery of the Universal Brotherhood of the World." The officers of No. 4, are R. F. 
McCabe, Illustrious Commander ; W. Gr. Nichols, Captain General ; A. 0. Grigsby, 
Chief of Records ; W. H. Phillips, Registration Chief; H. N. Cutshaw, Chief of 
Exchequer ; J. A. Reason, Master of Ceremonies. 

The Knights of Honor organized in July, 1878. with fourteen charter members. 
It is mainly for mutual life insurance, though it has social features. The Grand Lodge 
of the State controls 110 subordinate lodges. Assessments are made so that upon the 
death of a brother, his heirs obtain $2,000. The Grand Lodge of Illinois, of which 
J. C. S. Miller, a Bloomingtonian; is Grand Dictator, meets here in June, 1879. The 
Bloomington organization is known as Independent Lodge K. of H., No. 706. Its 
officers are: Past Dictators, Frank White, I. N. Littel, E. D. Miller; Dictator, C. A. 
Brooks ; Vice Dictator, B. G. Cash ; Asst. Dictator, S. B. Cooper ; Treasurer, E. D. 
Miller ; Reporter, C. E. Baker ; Financial Reporter, C. L. Camp ; Medical Examiner, 
Dr. N. B. Cole; Chaplain, W. R. Bascom ; Guide, M. Plumley ; Guardian, George 
Harman ; Sentinel, Adam Hess. 

The Ancient Order of United Workmen is a secret benevolent society with an 
insurance feature that highly commends itself Upon the death of any member any- 
where in the State, the assessments realize enough to pay $2,000 to the family of the 
deceased. The Bloomington Lodge was organized April 17, 1877. Its number is 63. 
Its officers for the past six months were J. D. Dodge, Past Master ; F. M. Fowler, 
Master Workman ; T. W. Pelton, General Foreman ; Julius Johnson, Overseer ; J. L. 
Beath, Receiver ; James Lonney, Financier; F. W. Coe, Recorder; D. Hemmele, 
Guide ; G. B. Bossie, Inside Watchman ; J. S. Izaat, Outside Watchman. There are 
about ninety members and the Order is in a flourishing condition. 

The Independent Oi'der B'nai B'rith has one Lodge, Abraham Lincoln, No. 190. 
E. Ganz, is President; M. Lange, Vice President; W. Greisheim, Secretary; M. Heil- 
brun, Financial Secretary. This Order equals the Masons or Odd Fellows in the 
thoroughness and completeness of its organized charity. The Bloomington lodge was 
started October 27, 1872, with twenty-two members and now contains thrity-three. 



103 

The Ancient, Free and Accepted York Masons have a lodge — Evening Star 
Lodge, No. 4— organized September 12, 1864. J. A. Hill, Master; Z. T. Baker, 
Senior Warden ; J. Ward, Junior Warden ; R. Holley, Treasurer ; R. AUin, Sec- 
retary. 

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. i 

Bloomington boasts of better organized charitable associations than almost any 
other place in this State. Besides those which have secret organizations, we have a 
number that work publicly, though in an organized form. Of these we might mention 
the German Benevolent Association, which was formed May 1, 1857; has a present 
membership of seventy-four, and has become one of the oldest of its kind in the State. 
John Breckbeller is President ; C. Haker, Vice President, and William D. Penner? 
Treasurer. 

The Ancient Order of Hibernians of Bloomington was chartered April 20, 1874, 
and contains at this time about sixty members. Michael Martin is President : James 
Costello, Vice President ; William Nihin, Treasurer, and Daniel Haggarty, Secretary. 
The Hibernian Benevolent Society was incorporated March, 1869. It has seventy 
members. George Burns is President ; John Sullivan, Sr., Treasurer, and Dennis 
Mahoney, Secretary. These beneficial organizations have been supplemented by the 
Fatjier Mathew Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society, and the St. Patrick Total 
Abstinence and Benevolent Society. 

It is quite difficult, in a city like Bloomington, to learn of all the different 
societies and organizations. Our modern life seems to be adapted to all these various 
bodies ; they are readily formed, and often more easily dissolved. We know of the 
Conductors' and Engineers' Brotherhood, and of the Firemen's and Brakemen's Asso- 
ciations, as well as of several trades-unions and other societies, but our space will not 
allow us to publish all the particulars which we might easily obtain. There are other 
societies ; for instance, the German Free-School Society, with a good schoolhouse and 
lot at the corner of West and Front streets, well worthy of more particular mention ; 
but we have already exceeded the space allotted to these matters, and have, perhaps, 
even as it is, descended to more particulars than our readers will care to examine. 

IMPORTANT GERMAN ORGANIZATIONS. 

The first appearance of Germans in Bloomington in any considerable numbers, 
dates from 1854 to 1858, and we find* that during these years some of our best German 
organizations had their origin. Among these, we will mention the Turners, who com- 
menced August 20, 1858. They have become one of the most powerful societies in 
Bloomington. They now occupy the building which was, previous to 1856, the Bap- 
tist Church ; but this is too small and inconvenient for the Turners, who are forming 
their plans for the erection, as soon as possible, of a building that will be a credit to 
the society and an ornament to the city. Their ability to carry out the project has been 
but very slightly impaired by the hard times through which we are passing, and when 
the Society moves we may expect to see something accomplished. The present officers 
of the Bloomington Turnverein are as follows : President, William Gerken ; Vice 
President, C. Brohm ; Recording Secretary, P. Horermann ; Corresponding Secretary, 
E. Riebsame ; Treasurer, C. Trimpter. 



104 

October 12, 1874, saw the first organization of the Bloomington Maennerchor, 
which now contains a membership of 120. This number includes several hon- 
orary members, the active, or singing members, being about one-half of the whole 
society. The success of the organization has been quite remarkable. It now contains 
some of the best voices in the West, well trained, and ready to take a high position in 
the musical world. This society contains a large proportion of the best educated of 
the Germans in Bloomington, and it represents the wealth, culture and refinement of 
the German nation as well as any single organization in Central Illinois. Its officers 
are : Peter Gratz, President ; Carl Wehrstedt, Vice President ; Henry Behr, Secre- 
tary ; George H. Mueller, Financial Secretary, and Jacob Jacoby, Treasurer ; H. P. 
Seibel is Musical Director, and Arnold Rigger is Librarian. Prof. H. Von Eisner, who 
died in July, 1878, was, for some time, musical director, and is spoken of by the mem- 
bers as having been a fine musician, to whom the society is under obligations for quite a 
large portion of its present efficiency. 

OUR HIGHEST OFFICIALS. 

Bloomington was not very ambitious for high political honors in its younger days. It 
never aspired to fill high offices in the State or nation ; was content to be well governed 
at home, and to take care of as many of the county and legislative offices as possible? 
ever ready to help elect good men from other portions of the State to its highest offices. 
Even when John Moore, of Randolph's Grove, was made Lieutenant Governor in 1840, 
it did not seem to rouse our other politicians to any degree of individual ambition. 
There was a spasm at the time Owen Lovejoy was nominated for Congress in 1856, 
McLean being then in the same district with Bureau County, but nothing came of it, 
and our voters swallowed their pride, and assisted Mr. Lovejoy to the position he 
desired. Up to 1870, no citizen of McLean County had ever been elected to Congress. 

In 1856, James Miller, of Bloomington, was chosen State Treasurer, being the first 
Bloomingtonian to fill a high State office. Mr. Miller was one of our most respected 
citizens, and has left his mark upon our city, very particularly in the Methodist Church, 
of which he was a consistent, liberal and enthusiastic member. In 1874, Samuel M. 
Elter, who had for some time been City School Superintendent here, was elected State 
Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

In 1872, Gen. John McNulta, whose brilliant record as Colonel of the Ninety- 
fourth Illinois Regiment is set forth in its proper place, was elected to Congress from the 
district composed of the counties of McLean, DeWitt, Logan, Tazewell and Mason, 
being the first of our citizens ever elected to Congress. He was followed in 1874 by A. 
E. Stevenson, who is our present member, having been again elected in November, 
1878. 

Judge Thomas F. Tipton, another Bloomingtonian, was chosen to Congress in 
1876. Our city is now rather noted for its willingness to furnish Congressmen, or, in 
fact, candidates for almost any position. We believe Bloomington has always had the 
Judge of this judicial district ever since it was first filled by David Davis in 1848. He 
was succeeded in 1862 by John M. Scott, who was promoted from the Circuit to the 
Supreme Bench in 1870. Thomas F. Tipton was our Judge from the latter date until 
he was sent to Washington, as noted before, and Owen T. Reeves was then chosen to fill 
the vacancy. Our judges have been distinguished for their ability and impartiality. 



105 

Hon. John M. Scott was elected to the Supreme Bench of Illinois in June, 1870. 
He had been Circuit Judge here from 1862. He had also filled several offices in this 
city and county, having been, when a young man, City Clerk and City Attorney, and, 
previous to his election as Circuit Judge, he had, in 1852, filled the position of Judge of 
Probate, and had held other appointments. He never sought office, but has been one of 
those careful, competent, well-balanced men who are so rare that, when met with, the 
public insist upon elevating them to offices of honor and trust. Judge Scott is a native 
Illinoisan, having been born near Belleville, St. Clair County, in 1823. He has been 
honored with the above-mentioned offices, while at the same time he has conferred dig- 
nity upon every one he has filled, being a cultured gentleman whom people have always 
been proud to refer to as a model official. For two years of the nine during which he 
has been upon the Supreme Bench, he was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the 
State of Illinois. 

Judge David Davis, one of the oldest and foremost of Bloomington's pioneers, is a 
gentleman who has heeu highly promoted different at times, and we will refer to him by 
a quotation from the carefully-prepared article in " The Good Old Times in McLean 
County," by Prof Duis, which does him justice in better terms than we can command. 

The greatest legal light of Bloomington is Judge David Davis. He was born in Cecil 
County, Md., on the 9th of March, 1815. He graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio, on the 4th of 
September, 1832, and commenced the study of law at Lenox, Mass., in October following, in the 
office of Judge Henry W. Bishop. After studying there for two years, he went to the New 
Haven Law School, where he remained until the fall of 1835, when he removed to Pekin, Taze- 
well Co., 111. After practicing law for one year in Pekin, he removed to Bloomington, which 
has ever since been his home. Here he succeeded to the law business of Mr. Jesse W. Fell, 
who became much interested in operations in real estate. He took possession of Mr. Fell's old 
office, which was one door east of what is now Espey's drug store. Mr. Davis succeeded in the 
law at the very outset. He was not a great orator, nor ever a very fluent talker, but he was a 
clear-minded man, and soon took a front rank in his chosen profession. 

On the 13tli of October, 1838, Judge Davis married Miss Sarah Walker, at Lenox, Mass. 
She is a daughter of Judge Walker, of that State. Judge Davis has two children living — a son 
and a daughter. The former is living with his family near Bloomington. In the year 1840, 
Mr. Davis was the candidate of the Whigs for the office of State Senator against Gov. Moore, but 
the latter was successful. The Senatorial District then embraced the counties of Moultrie, 
Macon, Piatt, De Witt, McLean and Livingston. In 1844, Mr. Davis was elected to the lower 
house of the Assembly, but declined to be a candidate for re-election. In 1847, he was elected 
a member of the Constitutional Convention; and, in 1848, was chosen by the people, without 
opposition, to be Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, embracing fourteen counties. This was 
a position for which Judge Davis was eminently fitted. It has been said of him, that his lead- 
ing characteristic is love of equity, and this, combined with a strong will, quick perceptions 
and the very clearest judgment, made his decisions universally respected. His decisions were 
seldom appealed from, and more seldom reversed. 

The Eighth Judicial Circuit, which embraced, at first, fourteen counties, contained an 
array of talent rarely equaled among the same number of lawyers. Judge Logan was the 
leader of the bar, but, following him closely, were Lincoln, Stuart, Baker, Linder, Gridley, 
Judge 0. L. Davis, Judge Thornton, Hon. 0. B. Ficklin, Judge Emerson, C. H. Moore, Judge 
Benedict, Judge Parks, Judge Edwards and others, some of whom have since become immortal 
in history. Lincoln was the constant companion of Judge Davis in their travels around the 
extensive circuit, and at the close of their journey each day, Lincoln related those humorous 
stories which have made .him so famous. Mr. Davis traveled in a two-horse buggy, and Mr. 
Lincoln rode in his own conveyance, drawn by his celebrated horse " Buck." the one which fol- 
lowed the great martyr in the funeral procession to his final resting-place. 



106 

The year 1860 was one of memorable interest in Illinois. Some years before this, many 
:prominent citizens of the State resolved to press Abraham Lincoln as a candidate for President 
of the United States, and during this year the excitement was so intense that nearly all law 
business was at a standstill, because the lawyers and judges devoted all of their time to the 
campaign. Judge Davis was, by far, the most active and influential of Mr. Lincoln's support- 
«rs, and his labors were almost herculean. Perhaps some idea may be given of the labors of 
Judge Davis by giving an extract from a letter written by Mr. Jesse W. Fell to a late distin- 
^guished Senator of the United States, in regard to a question by the latter as to the part taken 
by Mr. Fell in the campaign of 1860. The question was suggested by an autobiography of 
Abraham Lincoln, of which Mr. Fell was the proprietor, recently published by Osgood & Co., of 
Boston. The following is the extract : 

"Before responding to your inquiries, allow me to say, you give me much more credit than 
I am entitled to for the part I took in bringing before the American people the name of Abra- 
ham Lincoln as a candidate for the Presidency. Your original impressions were originally cor- 
rect. To Judge Davis more than to any other man, living or dead, the American people are 
indebted for that extraoi'dinary piece of good-fortune — the nomination and consequent election 
of that man who combined in his person, in so high a degree, the elements necessary to a suc- 
cessful administration of the Government through the late most critical period in our national 
history. It is quite possible Mr. Lincoln's fitness, or, rather, availability, as a candidate for that 
position may have occurred to me before it did to the Judge ; but at an early date, as early, I 
think, as 1858, it had his earnest approval ; and, I need not say, his vastly superior influence 
gave to his opinion on this subject a weight and character which my private and humble opin- 
ion could not command. It is well known that Judge Davis, though not a delegate, was one of 
the leading men at the Decatur State Convention, in May, 1860, which elected delegates to the 
Chicago National Convention ; that he was there selected as one of the Senatorial delegates to the 
latter body; that, for more than a week prior to the nomination, he had, in connection with 
other friends of Mr. Lincoln, opened the ' Lincoln Headquarters,' at the Tremont House, Chi- 
cago, where, and throughout the city, wherever delegates were to be found, he labored day and 
night, almost sleeplessly, throughout that long and dramatically-interesting contest, woi'king 
with a zeal, assiduity and skill never surpassed, if ever equaled ; and that when those herculean 
labors culminated in the choice of his trusted and most confidential friend, his feelings so over- 
powered him that, not only then but for hours after, in grasping the hands of congratulating 
friends, he wept like a child. Whilst it is undoubtedly true that without the hearty and vigor- 
ous co-operation of quite a number of equally eminent men, the prestige attached to the names 
of Seward and others could not have been broken and this nomination secured, no one as famil- 
iar as I was with what was then and there enacted, can doubt for a moment the pre-eminent part 
there played by the Judge. Among Lincoln hosts he was emphatically the great central figure : 
the great motor of the hour. ' Render unto Csesar the things that are Caesar's.' " 

In 1861, Judge Davis, Judge Holt and Mr. Campbell were chosen by Lincoln to investigate 
the management of Quartermaster McKinstry, who held his office under Gen. Fremont. The 
investigation was thorough and laid bare the corruption and mismanagement of affairs in St. 
Louis. 

In 1862, Judge Davis was appointed by Abraham Lincoln one of the Associate Justices of 
the Supreme Court of the United States. This appointment was not made by any personal 
solicitation of Judge Davis, but simply on account of Mr. Lincoln's knowledge of the man and 
by the effort of friends. At the time of his appointment, he was well known in Illinois as a man 
of great judicial learning and the best of judgment, but his reputation had not gone beyond his 
State, as he had never filled a position where his decisions would be published. But, when he 
came to the Supreme Bench of the United States, his reputation as a jurist went beyond the 
most sanguine expectations of his friends. A writer in the American Laio Times, in discussing 
the character of .Judge Davis, says, " .Judge Davis is a natural lawyer, a character so truly great 
ithat to doubt him would be impossible. His mind is all equity and as vigorous as it is kind. 
He is progressive, and yet cautious ; a people's judge, and yet a lawyer." His opinion in the 



107 

Milligan case has attracted more attention from the people at large than any decision since that 
of Judge Taney in the Dred Scott case. Judge Davis lays liown some fundamental principles 
of constitutional law which will stand as landmarks for ages after he shall have been gathered 
to his fathers. Judge Davis has been remarkably successful as a dealer in real, estate, and in 
all of his purchases and sales has shown the very best of judgment. His tirst purchase of real 
estate was made in Cliicago ; but as he was associated with others and the disposition of the 
property was in a great measure beyond his control, the speculation was not fortunate. Never- 
theless, he had great faith in the future of Chicago, although it then numbered but a few 
hundred inhabitants, and he purchased an eighty-acre tract of land about three miles from the 
harbor. It now sells by the foot, so far as it is offered for sale. It is to this fortunate invest- 
ment that he is indebted in part for the ample fortune he possesses. 

His policy in dealing in real estate has been to purchase property in the suburbs of a 
growing town in order that it might become valuable with the increase of the place in size and 
prosperity. He was always careful to buy land intrinsically valuable, considering what it would 
produce, so that in any event his speculation would be a safe one. As is well known, Judge 
Davis is a man of great public spirit, but thinks public matters should be managed as other 
business matters are, on a good financial basis. He has been charged with being indifferent in 
the matter of subscribing to build railroads. His theory with regard to railroads is that they 
should be built where it will pay to build them as an investment, and that the idea of voting aid 
from towns, counties and States, or donating lands along the line of the proposed road is wrong 
in principle. 

He believes that capitalists are always sharp enough to see where it will pay to invest their 
money and are ready to build railroads which will return a fair profit to the investors. He 
thinks that the voting of aid by towns and counties and making land-grants result in many 
cases in building roads which will not pay running expenses, and in others of putting roads in 
the hands of unprincipled managers who care nothing whatever for the people who have helped 
them and the towns that have voted them aid. Under these circumstances, he has always been 
very conservative and cool about assisting railroads, and some fault has been found with him 
for so doing, but many of those who have blamed him in times past, are now very much of his 
way of thinking. Bloomington and Normal have been very much benefited by their State insti- 
tutions — the Normal School and the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The location of these institu- 
tions here was due in a great measure to Judge Davis, who donated forty acres of land to the 
Normal School and sixty acres to the Orphans' Home. The former donation was worth at the 
time when given, |4,000 and the latter $12,000. It will be remembered that great exertions 
were made to have these institutions taken elsewhere, and .Judge Davis' example and influence 
did very much to prevent their transfer. So far as matters of charity are concerned it is not 
usually safe to speak definitely of any one. People who have the greatest reputation for charity 
usually only deserve part of the credit they receive, as a suspicion is sometimes aroused that 
their charities are performed to be seen of men. Judge Davis does not indulge in ostentatious 
charity, but his friends assert that very few can be found anywhere so liberal, even when judged 
by the proper standard — ability to give. 

Judge Davis was, at one time, enabled to do some service to the city of Bloomington by 
saving to it the machine-shops of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. These shops secure a monthly 
disbursement of $50,000, and the matter is of the greatest importance to Bloomington. When 
they were burned down, Judge Davis was holding court in Chicago ; he there learned that it was 
the intention of various parties to make an effort to transfer the machine-shops to another point. 
He immediately gave notice to the citizens of Bloomington, who took active measures to save 
them. 

There was more danger of the shops going to Chicago than the pubHc in Bloom- 
ington generally imagined, but Judge Davis understood the real state of affairs better 
than any one else, and Bloomington is deeply indebted to him for his services on this 
occasion. 



108 

For the benefit of future historians, we will explain Judge Davis' connection with 
the famous Cincinnati Convention of May 2, 1872. There were in the Republicani 
party a large number of men who were very much opposed to the renomi nation of 
President Grant. Some of these were disappointed office-seekers, but the majority of 
those who were in the foreground of the movement were men who were of the purest 
motives, looking for " civil-service reform." It was thought that if a Republican could 
be agreed upon at Cincinnati who was likely to carry a large number of votes from his 
own party, he would be nominated by the regular Democratic Convention and elected 
President ; while it was seen that the nomination of a regular Democrat, with no sup- 
porters except from his own party, would insure his defeat. From Judge Davis' inde- 
pendent position, he having been known for years as a Republican, having been one of 
Abraham Lincoln's warmest friends, being the executor of Mr. L.'s estate, being well 
known all over the country for his high standing as a Judge in the Supreme Court of 
the United States, there is little doubt that, had he been nominated at Cincinnati, he 
might have proved much stronger than Horace Greeley, who was the choice of that 
Convention, and was accepted by the Democrats at their National Convention soon after. 
When it was seen that a strong efi"ort would be made at Cincinnati to secure the nomi- 
nation for Judge Davis, his personal friends in Bloomington rallied with wonderful 
enthusiasm. A special train of eight passenger-coaches left this city for Cincinnati,, 
carrying nearly three hundred Bloomingtonians, who were full of zeal for their candi- 
date. Probably Bloomington never experienced such a peculiar excitement as during 
the few days that preceded this excursion, and the time that elapsed till May 3, when 
the result at Cincinnati became known. Judge Davis' friends were fully persuaded 
that he would be nominated, and that, in that event, he would be the next President. 
His life-long friends were rejoiced at the prospect of such good-fortune, while the citi- 
zens generally, whether personally or politically friendly or not, were pleased at the 
prominence that would be given to Bloomington in case of his success. 

The Bloomingtonians at Cincinnati, strengthened by the other delegations from 
Illinois, infused great enthusiasm into the movement, and, on the first ballot. Judge 
Davis carried a large vote in the Convention. He was not regarded as sufficiently 
known all over the Union, and Horace Greeley was the fortunate, or, as the event 
proved, unfortunate, nominee. 

But this event was not needed to prove the strong hold Judge Davis has upon the 
affections of his neighbors, who well know the many instances in which he has assisted 
the home of his adoption in nearly all plans that have been inaugurated for the public 
good. During his whole career in this place, he has been one of the foremost in nearly 
every public enterprise, so that particular enumeration here is entirely unnecessary. 

In the winter of 1877 and 1878, at the Senatorial election, when the Legisla- 
ture was called upon to choose a successor to Gen. John A. Logan, there was a long 
contest before a choice was effected. The Republican party in the Legislature lacked 
several of a majority. The balance of power between the Democrats and Republicans 
was held by five or six Senators and Representatives who were called Independents, 
though sympathizing more with the Democrats than with the supporters of Gen. Logan, 
who bad been voted for by the Republicans for several days in succession. The Repub- 
licans balloted for other persons — Judge C. B. Lawrence among others. Finally, the 
Independents proposed Judge David Davis, whose political sentiments were almost 



109 

unknown, though he was supposed to lean slightly to the Democratic side, and to be 
very much in sympathy with the Independents. After a few ballots, the whole strength 
of the Democratic party, with one or two exceptions, added to the votes of the Inde- 
pendents, elected David Davis to the United States Senate for the six years commen- 
cing with the 4th day of March, 1878. 

His high standing as a Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States taken 
in connection with his well-balanced judgment, which is seldom at fault on political 
questions, gave him an enviable position in the Senate, where he wields an influence of 
which his constituents may well be proud. He has continued impartially to fill the 
political position he was expected to occupy — that of an Independent, with a decided 
inclination to the side of the Democracy. Bloomington, as well as the whole State of 
Illinois, may well feel honored in being represented in the United States Senate by 
David Davis. 

POLITICAL HISTORY. 

Our city has always claimed that the great Republican party of the nation had its 
birth at Major's Hall in 1856. At the risk of being attacked for our audacity, we will 
undertake to declare this a spurious claim. In the fall of 1854, the opposition to the 
Nebraska bill all over the country fought its battles under different names, generally as 
Free-Soilers, Anti-Nebraska Democrats, the Whig or American party; though in Massa- 
chusetts the Free-Soilers and Anti-Nebraska Democrats had declared themselves to be 
Republicans. The election of Speaker in Congress in the winter of 1855 and 1856 
resulted in the choice of N. P. Banks, who had been elected as a Republican and 
American, in 1854. It is, however, a fact that a convention called as the '' Anti- 
Nebraska State Convention " assembled in Major's Hall, in Bloomington, May 29, 1856, 
which nominated William H. Bissell for (jloveruor, which was a most enthusiastic con- 
vention, was addressed by Abraham Lincoln, and was practically the first Republican 
State Convention ever held in the State of Illinois. 

Let us examine a letter signed "Anti-Nebraska," published August 9, 1854, in 
the Bloomington Pantagraph : '' I am in favor of issuing a call for a State Conven- 
tion, signed by Whigs, Democrats, and persons of all other political faiths. Let all 
opposed to this Nebraska outrage come together upon equal footing, and when together, 
let them organize and devise plans by which to carry the State. As to the name under 
which we might organize and fight, I should care but little. The one adopted in 
Massachusetts, viz., ' Republicans,' is, perhaps, as unobjectionable as any other. 

" Anti-Nebraska." 

Here we have proof that as early as August, 1854, the name of the new party 
had been applied in Massachusetts. 

There was a meeting at Potter County, Penn., July 4, 1854, when the Hon- 
Joshua R. Giddings and others organized those present into the " Republican " party 
of that county. The proceedings of this meeting were recorded in the Potter County 
Journal^ as we are informed by William Perry, Esq., of this city, who was present at 
the meeting, and well remembers that Mr. Giddings spoke of the organization of the 
Republican party as a " new movement " being inaugurated all over the country. These 
references to what was being done in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are sufficient 
proof that the Republican party did not " originate " solely in Bloomington ; and we 
might also mention that one of the first Republican meetings in this State was held in 
Aurora, Kane Co., in the mouth of August, 1854. 



110 

It is on record that during this month a County Convention in La Salle County, 
111., adopted the same name. Furthermore, Hon, Washington Bushnell, of Ottawa, 111., 
sent to Mr. A. B. Ives, of this city, printed notices for calling a Republican County 
Convention here on the 9th of September, 1854. These notices were posted by Mr. 
Ives. The idea of such a convention was derided by our leading politicians, who 
regarded this movement as a sort of disguised abolitionism. This convention was held 
at our old Court House, its proceedings attracting very little attention. The Pantagraph^ 
then a Whig paper, contained an able editorial arguing against the formation of a now 
party, which is almost the only evidence we find in its files that any movement was in 
contemplation. It did not even deign to give a regular editorial report of the County 
Convention, which is thus reported in the Weekly Pantagraph of September 13, 1854: 

REPUBLICAN. 

At a meeting of the voters of McLean County, held pursuant to notice, at the Court House 
in Bloomington, on Saturday, the 9th day of September, for the purpose of appointing delegates 
to the District Convention to be held at Springfield, on motion, Dr. J. R. Freese was called to 
the chair, and A. B. Ives was appointed Secretary. On motion, the following delegates were 
chosen, to wit : Dr. R. 0. Warinner, Dr. J. R. Freese, Oliver Graves, A. B. Ives, Bloomington ; 
N. N. Jones, Hudson ; W. F. M. Arny, North Bloomington. 

On motion of Dr. J. R. Freese, it was 

Resolved, That our delegates be instructed to have added to the platform of the new party 
(if one is formed) the Anti-Liquor plank. 

Resolved, That the delegates have power to fill vacancies, and that the proceedings of this 

meeting be published in the Daily Pantagraph. 

J. R. FREESE, Chairman. 

A. B. IVES, Secretary. 

The State Convention to which these delegates were appointed, met at Springfield, 
October 5, 1854. It was attended by only twenty -six delegates, who were mostly 
Abolitionists, Owen Lovejoy, Ichabod Codding and Erastus Wright having been the 
moving spirits. On the 5th of October, it nominated John E. McClun, of McLean, as 
a candidate for State Treasurer. In a short time, the name of James Miller, of Bloom- 
ington, was substituted for that of Judge McClun, but the latter gentleman is entitled 
to the honor of having been the first Republican nominee in Illinois for a State ofiice. 
This Convention is not generally considered as the first Republican State Convention, 
its numbers having been insignificant and its organization imperfect, but it is historically 
the earliest on record. 

This is the same State Convention recommended in the Pantograph's communica- 
tion of the date of August 9, 1854, and we have now plainly shown the chain of title 
from its beginning to its ending, proving that Bloomington assisted the general move- 
ment for a new party, but that our city originated very little that was new in this 
direction. 

Very few of the delegates appointed at the Republican meeting at the Court 
House September 9, 1854, attended the State Convention of which we have spoken, 
but they were present at the Congressional Convention held at Major's Hall September 12. 
This district, at that time, was made up of Bureau, La Salle, Will, Kendall, Kankakee, 
Iroquois, Putnam, Woodford, McLean, Livingston, Champaign and Vermilion Counties. 
Among the delegates were some of the class known as Republicans, or Abolitionists, 
while others were " Anti-Nebraska" Whigs and Democrats. The Convention was 



Ill 

regarded by the people of Bloomington as a sort of Abolition affair, as in this region 
the Whig party was supposed to be good enough for all purposes. In the organization 
of the Convention, the " Republican" element (then considered about the same as Abo- 
litionists) obtained the organization, and the Committee reported and the Convention 
adopted a full set of Republican resolutions, which were thought to be too strong to 
please the Whigs, and which were intended to be too radical for the support of Jesse 
0. Norton, who was the Anti-Nebraska and also Old-Line Whig candidate for a renomi- 
nation. To the surprise of all, Mr. Norton planted himself squarely upon the Repub- 
lican platform. 

The supporters of the opposing candidate, Mr. C. Coffin, who was also a Whig, 
withdrew from Major's Hall and assembled at the Pike House. There was great excite- 
ment in Bloomington ; committees conferred between the two wings of the Convention, 
and, at 11 o'clock at night, the seceders returned from the Pike House, participated in 
the meeting, and the Hon. Jesse 0. Norton, of Joliet, was nominated as a Republican. 
This Convention was large and enthusiastic, and was the real parent of the Republican 
party in McLean County, although many of the Whigs of that day would not acknowl- 
edge themselves as members of the new party. 

The platform of this Convention was strongly " Anti-Nebraska," of course, was 
quite satisfactory to the Abolitionists, and, though not as radical as was then demanded 
by the latter class, it was agreeable to the " Anti-Nebraska" Whigs and Democrats; 
and by a union of these three parties the Republican party was formed. In the plat- 
form, the " new party," referred to in the Court House meeting of September 9, was 
named the Republican party. This was probably the first convention of any note of 
this new party held anywhere in the West, though, as we have mentioned above, N. P, 
Banks and others were chosen to Congress as Republicans from Massachusetts at the 
same election. The fact seems to be that all over the country, wherever the radical 
''Anti-Nebraska" men were powerful, there attempts were made, during the fall of 
1854, to organize a new party; and the meeting held in Bloomington was not held in 
advance of others in different States. 

The resolutions of this Convention were not printed in the WeeMy Pantagraphj 
then a Whig paper, which is the only file of newspapers of that date to which we have 
access. Its report of the Convention is as follows : 

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. 

"The Convention in session in this place yesterday, after rather a stirring time, 
and passing through several phases indicative of the elements of which it was composed, 
closed its labors at a late hour last night by nominating Hon. Jesse 0. Norton. Of 
course, as sensible men, honest in their anti-Nebraska sentiments, they were obliged to 
nominate the man who could be elected. Mr. Norton is now what he has ever been — a 
Whig — and, as such, he may well expect to be re-elected by a large majority." 

The Whigs voted for Mr. Norton as a Whig. The Republicans, referring to their 
Major's Hall resolutions, which he had indorsed, voted for him as a Republican, and 
he was elected to Congress in November. 

At the same election, James H. Woodworth, of Chicago, was elected to Congress 
as a Republican, as we see by a dispatch from the Chicago Tribune, dated November 8, 
1854, which gives the figures: "J. H. Woodworth, Republican, 2,143 ; Turner 



112 

(Nebraska Democrat), 695 ; Mayo (Anti-Nebraska Democrat), 70 ; Blackwell (Whig), 
249." In the summary of Congressmen elected, we find Norton classed as a Whig, 
Woodworth as a Republican, while in one district an Anti-Nebraska Democrat was 
chosen. All this in 1854 proves that there was a Republican party at that time. The 
Republican party carried the State of Massachusetts at the election in 1855. When 
N. P. Banks reached Washington, in the fall of 1855, he and others were willing to 
be called Republicans, and when the long contest over his election as Speaker ended, in 
January, 1856, he was known all over the Union as a Republican. In the light ot 
these facts, it is ridiculous for Bloomington to claim that the Republican party had its 
origin and birthplace here. If there is any historical honor connected with the mat- 
ter, it attaches itself to the meeting held in our Court House September 9, 1854, 
whose proceedings we have given above. However, the Republican State Convention 
held at Major's Hall, May 29, 1856, was of the greatest historical importance, as we 
shall see. 

This Convention was largely attended by delegates from all the principal counties, 
ar d was a most remarkable gathering. John M. Palmer presided, and Abraham Lin- 
coln made his celebrated speech. The "Anti-Nebraska" Whigs and Democrats, with 
the Abolitionists, and those who, in 1854, were willing to be called Republicans, who 
in this State were not numerous, with a large number of the Americans, coalesced will- 
ingly into one party and took upon themselves boldly the name of " Republican," which 
had now since the election of Speaker Banks, became a name of national importance. 
The enthusiasm of the convention was most tremendous, and here was started the 
movement which resulted in the perfect organization of the Republican party of Illi- 
nois. The nominees of this Convention were elected. Hon. William H. BisscU was 
-elected Governor, and James Miller, of Bloomington, State Treasurer, while the speech 
•of Mr. Lincoln resulted in his election to the Presidency. 

Ward H. Lamon, a resident of Bloomington from 1857 to 1861 when he became 
Marshal of the District of Columbia, in his life of Abraham Lincoln, says: "Mr. Hern- 
don drew up a paper to be signed by men of his class in politics, calling a County Con- 
vention to elect delegates to the State Convention at Bloomington. ' Mr. Lincoln was 
then backward,' fsays Mr. Herndon, ' dodgey,' so and so. I was determined to make 
him take a stand, if he would not do it willingly, which he might have done, as 
he was naturally inclined Abolitionward. Lincoln was absent when the call was signed 
and circulated here. I signed Mr. Lincoln's name without authority — had it published 
in the Journal. John T. Stuart was keeping his eye on Lincoln, with the view of 
keeping him on his side, the totally dead conservative side. Mr. Stuart saw the pub- 
lished call, and grew mad ; rushed into my ofiice, seemed mad, horrified, and said to me, 
' Sir, did Mr. Lincoln sign that abolition call which is published this morning ? " I 
answered, ' Mr. Lincoln did not sign that call.' ' Did Lincoln authorize you to sign it? ' 
said Mr. Stuart. 'No, he never authorized me to sign it.' ' Then do you know that 
you have ruined Mr. Lincoln ? ' 'I did not know that I had ruined Mr. Lincoln — did 
not intend to do so — thought he was a made man by it — that the time had come when 
conservatism was a crime and a blunder.' ' You, then, take the responsibility of your 
acts, do you ? ' ' I do, most emphatically.' However, I instantly sat down and wrote 
to Mr. Lincoln, who was then in Pekin, or Tremont, possibly at court. He received 
my letter, and instantly replied, either by letter or telegraph, most likely by letter, that 



113 

he adopted in toto what I had done, and promised to meet the Radicals — Lovejoy and 
such-like men — at Bloomington." 

At Bloomington, Lincoln was the great figure. Beside him, all the rest, even the 
oldest in the faith and the strongest in the work, were small. Yet, he was universally 
regarded as a recent convert, although the most important one that could be made in the 
State of Illinois. "We met at Bloomington, and it was there," says Mr. Herndon in 
one of his lectures, •' that Mr. Lincoln was baptized and joined our church. He made 
a speech to us. I have heard or read all Mr. Lincoln's great speeches, and give it as 
my opinion on my best judgment, that the Bloomington speech was the grand effort of 
his life. Heretofore, and up to this moment, he had simply argued the slavery question on 
grounds of policy, on what are called the statesman's grounds, never reaching the ques- 
tion of the radical and the eternal right. Now he was newly baptized and freshly born ; 
he had the fervor of a new convert; thesmothered flame broke out; enthusiasm unusual 
to him blazed up; his eyes were aglow with an inspiration; he felt justice; his heart was 
alive to the right; his sympathies, remarkably deep for him, burst forth, and he stood 
before the throne of the Eternal Bight, in the presence of his God, and then and there 
unburdened his penitential and fired soul. This speech was fresh, new, genuine, odd, 
original, filled with fervor not unmixed with a divine enthusiasm ; his head breathing 
out through his tender heart its truths, its sense of right, and its feeling of the good and 
for the good. This speech was full of fire, and energy, and force ; it was logic, it was 
pathos, it was enthusiasm; it was justice, equity, truth, right and the good set ablaze 
■by the divine fires of a soul maddened by the wrong ; it was hard, heavy, knotty, gnarled) 
edged and heated. I attempted for about fifteen minutes, as was usual with me then, 
to take notes, but at the end of that time I threw pen and paper to the dogs, and lived 
only in the inspiration of the hour. If Mr. Lincoln was six feet four inches high usu- 
ally, at Bloomington he was seven feet, and inspired at that. From that day to the day 
of his death he stood firm on the right. He felt his great cross, had his great idea, 
■nursed it, kept it, taught it to others, and in his fidelity bore witness of it to his death, 
and finally sealed it with his precious blood." 

It is universally admitted that this great speech was the means of elevating Mr. 
Lincoln into the prominent position he soon occupied, and which resulted in his eleva- 
tion to the Presidency. 

This Convention thoroughly organized the Republican party of Illinois, and, from 
its results, has become a landmark in the history of Bloomington — almost as prominent 
as if it had been, as many seem to suppose, the first movement of the kind in the 
West. 

To recapitulate — we find that September 9, 1854, the first Republican County 
Convention of McLean County was held at the Court House; on the 13th of Septem- 
ber, 1854, there was a remarkable convention of Republicans of this Congressional dis- 
trict at Major's Hall ; while on the 29th of May, 185G, the second Jlepublican State 
Convention, but really the first in importance, was also held in Major's Hall, resulting 
in the perfect organization of the Republican party. 

The first nomination of Hon. Owen Lovejoy, to Congress, in 185G, and the " Bolt 
ing " Convention, held in Bloomington, deserve a place in this chapter. July 2, 1856, 
a delegate convention of the " Anti-Nebraska " party met at Ottawa to nominate a 
^candidate to represent this district in Congress. This Convention was, in reality, a 

H 



114 

Republican gathering, though the name of the new party was at this time used rather 
gparingly. Its candidates were Owen Lovejoy, Leonard Swett, of this city, and Hon. 
Jesse 0. Norton, then our Representative in Congress. Mr. Lovejoy was the nominee 
of the Convention. His nomination was exceedingly distasteful to the more conserva- 
tive old Whig element, especially in McLean and the southern part of the district. 
This element formed a considerable portion of the new party, then beginning to crys- 
tallize. " Abolitionist " was the most opprobrious of epithets known, and the Whigs 
had received too many hard blows from Mr. Lovejoy — long known as an Abolitionist — 
to accept him as their standard-bearer. Consequently, a large number of the delegates 
withdrew from the Convention, and signed a call for a '' bolting" convention., to be held at 
Bloomington, July 1(5. This call was signed by Gen. Gridley, Isaac Funk, Dr. H. 
Noble, John J. Price and David Cheney, from this county, as well as by delegates from 
several other counties. 

On the 16th of July, the Convention met in the Court House at Bloomington, 
Isaac Funk being Chairman, and nominated T. Lyle Dickey, now Judge of the 
Supreme Court, as candidate for Congress. In the evening, there was a mass-meeting 
at the west side of the Court House, in the public square. Churchill Coffin, Esq., of 
Peru, opened the meeting with a rather heavy speech. He was followed by Judge 
Dickey, in an argumentative speech, in which he wholly failed to arouse the 
meeting, although he roundly denounced the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. 
Gen. Gridley was the next speaker, and he aroused the enthusiasm of his hearers, for he 
paid his respects to Mr. Lovejoy, the " Abolitionist," in his usual vigorous style, and 
caused several interruptions from some of the highly-excited auditors. At the conclu- 
sion of this speech, Mr. Lovejoy was called for, and, in response, took the stand. He 
had spent his life in the advocacy of an unpopular cause, many times speaking before 
unfriendly and hostile audiences. This gathering had been collected by his enemies, 
and to hear himself denounced. He had been declared an enemy to his country, and a 
man wholly unfit to be voted for by the members of the new party. He quickly 
proved himself an unrivaled public speaker, and, in a few minutes, he had the audi- 
ence completely with him. He showed his hearers that, even if he -had been an 
Abolitionist, he was entirely in sympathy with the newly-awakened Northern conscience 
which had now organized the new Republican party. He stated his position upon the 
Fuo-itive Slave Law, and asserted that every man of his audience regarded the law in 
the same light. His speech was a masterly eifcrt — the greatest of his life — and had an 
electric efl'ect upon the immense assembly. Since then, Bloomington audiences have 
heard Lincoln, Douglas, Corwin and Blaine, but never as cflFcctive a speech as that of 
Mr. Lovejoy that night. It was full of wit, declamation and pathos, and was ag 
eloquent a speech as evtr was listened to by our citizens. It killed the " bolting " convention, 
which was never heard of afterward. Nearly all who participated in it became ardent 
supporters of Mr. Lovejoy, and developed at once into the best of Republicans, and 
many of them were ever afterward Mr. L.'s earnest personal friends. To his great 
success at this meeting, thereby placing the Republicans on an advanced ground, is 
largely due the Republican majority in McLean County in later years, although the 
magnetism and popularity of IMr. Lincoln no doubt contributed toward bringing about 
the same result. 



115 



NORMAL TOWNSHIP. 



NORMAL UNIVERSITY. 

The location of the State Normal University at North Blooraington May 7, 1857, 
marks a period of history that is not only important to Normal Township, but also in 
an equal degree to the city of Bloomington and McLean County. At the time indi- 
cated, Normal was North Bloomington, or " The Junction," the six miles square, now 
called Normal, not having been named until after the location of the University, its first 
existence as a town dating from April 6, 1858. The early history of the Normal 
institution, its location, its first years of struggling efibrt, its vigorous childhood, belong 




NORMAL UNIVERSITY. 



to Bloomington, and this sketch is as well calculated to honor that city as it is fitted 
to reflect credit upon Normal. As we proceed with our account, we shall reach a period 
when the newly-built village became in reality Normal, with a definite future and pros- 
pects of its own, after which time, its acts and doings shall be credited to the proper 
source as zealously as its most earnest friends can desire. 

For the sake of greater clearness, we shall here omit any particular mention of the 
first settlers in Normal Township, and insert that information in another chapter by 
itself. We might state, that in 1857, the township was generally occupied by farmers, 
the village of North Bloomington having been platted and a few houses built, but to all 
practical intents, the entire township was simply an agricultural district. 

The Illinois Central and Chicago & Alton Railroads were finished and in running 
order several years before the location of the University, an excursion train having been 



116 

run on the 4:th day of July, 1854, from Bloomington to Lexington. The cars of the 
Illinois Central passed this point without stopping, from May 23, 1853, to the time of 
the completion of the other line. It was thought in 1852 that there would be a rail- 
road crossing near this place, and after the definite location of the Chicago & Alton line 
through the western part of Bloomington in 1853, the point for the junction was fixed. 
North Bloomington was projected and platted in the early part of 1854. There was a sale 
of lots on the 15th of June, 1854, at which about thirty lots sold at prices ranging 
between $30 and $50, and public attention was thus attracted to the new town of North 
Bloomington. The sale took place under the auspices of W. F. M. Arny & Co., but it 
was understood that Mr. Jesse W. Fell was the moving spirit in the new enterprise. 

In 1855, a large addition was made to North Bloomington by a company composed 
of Jesse W. Fell, R. R. Landon, L. B. Case, C. W. Holder and L. C. Blakesly. The 
place had all the prospects common to a railroad " crossing" or "junction," which were 
never very brilliant, when it is considered that the important town of Bloomington, 
with two depots, was only two miles away. Here, at the point of greatest natural 
beauty, Mr. Jesse W. Fell commenced, in 1855, his family residence, and finished it 
the next year, when he made it his permanent home. 

In the enterprise of building a new town at the '-Junction," he had taken into 
partnership, about this time, the several gentlemen whose names we have given; and in 
the course of a few years thereafter, acquired from them nearly the whole of their 
interests in the town site. 

Mr. Fell, from the first, had plans for bringing to North Bloomington something 
more than the ordinary business of a common railroad crossing. He intended to spare 
no effort to build here a town that should have for its characteristics, sobriety, morality, 
good society, and all the elements for an educational center. Previous to the passage 
of the act to establish a Normal University, which dates from February- 18, 1857, 
Mr. Fell was laboring with some prospects of success, to establish at North Blooming- 
ton a college or seminary of learning, and was in correspondence with Hon. Horace 
Mann and others in regard to the matter. Had he succeeded, the institution was to 
have been located upon Seminary Block, shown on the plat of North Bloomington, as 
the block next east of Mr. Fell's residence. This particular piece of ground at that 
time, before the trees and shrubbery had made their appearance, commanded a fine 
view of all the land in the neighborhood, being a part of that beautifully-rounded, 
elevated prairie upon which Mr. Fell built his family residence. In fact, the whole 
tract was one of striking beauty, long before North Bloomington was projected, in 
the days when, for more than a mile in either direction, not a house or improvement 
of any kind was visible. As long ago as in 1833, when on his way to what is now the 
township of Money Creek, in company with Mr. Kimler, one of the early stttlers of 
Bloomin"- Grove, Mr. Fell rode over the beautiful elevation which his residence now 
occupies. The public highway then passed in that vicinity. It was early in the morn- 
ino-, and as they surveyed the beautiful prairie landscape, Mr. Fell remarked, what a 
fine location this would be, at some day, for a residence. His companion replied, that 
it was not probable any one would ever be fool enough to build at such a great distance 
from the timber, echoing thereby the common sentiment of the early settlers. Over 
twenty years after, Mr. Fell built his family residence at that point, and com- 
menced to plant trees, which in a little more than another twenty years, have made 



117 

at that location the most beautifui grove or park that can be found in Central Illi- 
nois, and he has lived to see the prairie landscape converted into a beautiful village, 
t-haded by many thousand trees tastefully adorning the whole. We question if the 
history of our rapidly growing State can furnish a parallel, a town built entirely on the 
prairie, and, in so short a space of time, to be covered with more large trees than can 
be shown in most cities of older growth, though they were built on land originally 
occupied by those grand monarchs of the forest, which the early settlers delighted in 
destroying as fast as possible. 

Mr. Fell took a remarkable step toward bringing to the new town a desirable class 
of residents, by providing in all deeds to purchasers of lots in North Bloomington, that 
intoxicating liquors should never be sold on the premises ; and this stringent prohibition 
was afterward re-enforced by a town charter, which was intended to be entirely prohibitory. 
This charter needed amendments, however, in 1867, to make it as fully operative as the 
inhabitants desired, and a petition was circulated asking the Legislature to make such 
changes as should perpetually restrain the town or city authorities from ever licensing 
the sale of intoxicating liquors. It is a remarkable fact that this petition was signed by 
every man and woman, and every child over seven years old, in a town which then con- 
tained 1,800 inhabitants. This incident, though rather out of the proper historical order, is 
valuable as we thus discover that the foundations for the gathering-together of a very 
superior class of citizens, were early laid broad and deep, and the subsequent character 
of Normal can be traced quite plainly to those early efforts. North Bloomington, in 
1857, was barely started — scarcely known — called indiscriminately by its proper name, 
or the " Junction ; " a town site without a town, and with no special reason for its exist- 
ence. There was one inhabitant previous to 1855 ; this was Mr. McCambridge, whose 
residence was at the crossing of the railroads, where, as agent, he attended to all the 
interests of the railroad lines crossing at that point. Mr. Fell moved into his residence in 
1856, and, during that year the new town was augmented by the arrival of L. R. Case 
and family, and a few others, but no great growth took place till after the events of the 
year 1857. 

For the information of some of our younger readers, we will state that from 1848 
to 1856, the subject of free schools received a large share of attention in Illinois. Settlers 
from States where these schools were well established, were rapidly pouring in, and their 
influence, combined with the spirit of the times, resulted in a wonderful impulse being 
given to the cause of education. One direct result was the passage of the act of the 
Legislature for the establishment of a State Normal University, which passed February 
18, 1857. The project had been warmly advocated for several years, by the teachers 
of the State and all friends of education. As originally passed, the act contemplated 
that an agricultural or industrial college should be attached, and we find that the friends 
of these particular specialties were among the most earnest laborers for the new institution. 
One of the reasons why it was called a university, was because the way was thus prepared 
for future enlargement. Among the most earnest and devoted workers in this, as in 
other directions, we might mention the noble-hearted Prof J. B. Turner, of Jackson- 
ville, and Bronson Murray, then of Ottawa, 111., now of New York. 

Normal schools were new in the West at that time, Illinois being the pioneer in 
this grand enterprise. Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey, and a few other 
States had inaugurated normal schools. None of them were equal to the demands of 



118 

the times. Still, their success had been such as to warrant the public in expecting that 
institutions for the education and training of teachers of our common schools would aid 
the cause of education to a desirable degree. Some of the ablest friends of this new 
project for the proper education of the teachers of the public schools lived in McLean 
County, among whom we might mention W. F. M. Arny, Jesse W. Fell, Prof. D. Wil- 
kins and J. H. Wickizer, the latter being member of the Legislature from this 
district. 

The public mind was ripe for the proper appreciation of the needs, designs and 
scope of such a school, although even its own advocates differed somewhat as to the 
course of study and plans for its development. 

The act of the Legislature provided for a university, although what was established 
is in fact a normal school. The intention was to gather around the new institution the 
different colleges — classical, agricultural, industrial, law, medical, and the other depart- 
ments of a university — until in the end the State should have here a grand university, 
equal to any in the land. The full design has not been carried out, but there are many 
who still have hopes that the future may yet see its realization. 

The law provided a Board of Education of the State of Illinois, with power to 
carry into effect its purposes. This Board consisted of N. W. Edwards, of Springfield ; 
W. H. Wells, of Chicago ; John R. Eden, Moultrie County ; A. R. Shannon, White 
County; Simeon Wright, Lee County; W. Sloan, Pope County; George Bunsen, St. 
Clair County ; George P. Rex, Pike County ; Charles E. Hovey, Peoria ; Daniel Wil- 
kins, Bloomington ; C. B. Denio, Galena ; F. Mosely, Chicago ; S. W. Moulton, Shelby 
County, and J. Gillespie, Jasper County. This Board had full power, and it was made 
their duty, "to fix the permanent location of said Normal University at the place where 
the most favorable inducements are offered for that purpose, provided that such location 
shall not be difficult of access, or detrimental to the welfire and prosperity of said Nor- 
mal University." 

This body of gentlemen soon organized, and it appointed a committee to receive 
proposals for the location of the Normal University, which committee published notices 
in several newspapers, stating that the Board would, on a certain specified day, open 
at Peoria all bids that might be made. 

Several cities and towns entered into competition for what was understood to be a 
valuable prize. That the value of the new institution was thoroughly appreciated by 
the inhabitants of Bloomington is shown by the following extract from the Bloomington 
Pantagrapli of April 8, 1857, then edited by E. J. Lewis: 

The advantages to be conferred by such an institution upon the place of its location are too 
obvious to need enlarging upon. Richly endowed from a Government fund, collecting within 
its walls every year the flower of the youth of every part of the State, and organized with a full 
corps of the ablest instructors, the Normal University will doubtless take rank among the noblest 
institutions of learning in the country, and give to the town which contains it a degree of prom- 
inence at home and abroad scarcely second to that enjoyed by the State capital itself. 

In the light of subsequent events, how prophetic is this statement ! 

Mr. Fell and his co-workers did not rely on appeals made through the public presa. 
On the contrary, they were willing that the competing points should labor under the 
impression that Bloomington was not thoroughly aroused. These gentlemen labored 
incessantly with individuals ; argued, pictured, pleaded, taught, both by precept and 



119 

■example. They set the fashion by giving liberal fiubscriptions, and so far succeeded 
that they brought the amount of donations in land and money up to $50,000 from pri- 
vate individuals. They had previously obtained a pledge from the members of the 
County Commissioners' Court, A. J. Merriman, of Bloomington, Milton Smith, of 
Pleasant Hill, and H. Buck, of Le Roy, who formed the County Court at that time, 
that they would appropriate from the proceeds of the swamp-lands funds an amount 
equal to that subscribed by individuals. This made the total offer $100,000, and it 
was thought amply suflBcient to secure the location. 

In order to be fully aware of what Peoria — the principal competitor — was doing, 
one of the most active of our party went ro that city, quietly and rather in disguise, 
dropped into a back seat of a meeting of the County Board held in aid of the project, 
mixed with the crowd in the streets, and in various ways learned almost exactly what 
Peoria was preparing to offer. Its liberality alarmed him ; he returned to Bloomington 
and aroused his friends to still further efforts. Mr. Fell and other gentlemen 
increased their subscriptions until they reached $20,000, or $70,000 in all. The 
County Court was speedily called together again, the county's part increased by $20,000, 
and when the final effort was completed, at about the last day, in the afternoon, the 
total offer amounted to $141,000, made up of $70,000 from the first proceeds of the 
sales of McLean County's swamp-land, and $71,000 in money, lands and town lots from 
individuals. 

But the gross amount was kept a profound secret. Mr. Fell and a very few others 
were aware of the total, as it was highly important that competing points should remain 
in ignorance until too late for them to make additional subscriptions. 

On the 7th of May, 1857, the State Board of Education met at Peoria to open 
the bids and decide upon tlie location. The first offer was that of Batavia. This bid 
embraced $15,000 in money and the land and buildings of the Batavia Institute. 
There were between twenty and twenty-two acres of land, and a building seventy by 
fifty feet, three stories high, the whole estimated at $80,000, making Batavia's bid, in 
effect, $45,000. The citizens pledged themselves to raise $25,000, in order to pay a- 
debt of $10,000 now resting on the buildings, and to give the sum of $15,000 for the 
Normal University direct. There were several propositions from Bloomington, six sites 
being offered. The tract of 160 acres at the junction was the favorite, and the jiarticu- 
lars of that proposition were as follows : 

General subscription $ 7,875. 

Local cash subsciipiion for Junction site 25,850. 

Real estate: 160 acres lan<J— 60 acres at $300 per acre, $18,0C0; 100 

acres at |200 per acre, $20,000 38,000. 

McLean County subscription 70,000. 

Total $141,725. 

There were offered also, by K. H. Fell, thirty acres west of Sugar Creek ; bj 
Judge Davis, ten acres, near his residence ; by William Flagg, ten acres, on the north 
hill above the city ; by Thomas, Young & Sears, forty acres northeast of town ; by 
K. H. Fell and John Nicolls, eighty acres, two and a half miles east of the city, each 
of these on condition the University be located upon them. By the citizens of 
Washington, Tazewell County and the Trustees of the Washington Academy 
were offered $12,000 in cash, and the lot 430 by 120 feet, with brick building 47 



120 

by 62 feet, and three stories liish, of said Academy, in said town ; real estate at 
$2(1,000, making the bid $21,000. Peoria offered, in money : 

Individual subscription $20,032. 

City Corporation 10,000. 

County Board of Supervisors 15,000. 

There were several offers of land for sites. Phelps, Conklin & Brady offered 15 
acres, of which appraisements were unsettled, the first rating it at $18,000, the second 
at $30,000 ; the twenty-acre site was valued at $20,000 ; 120 acres two miles from the 
Court House, at $18,000 ; 20(1 acres three and a half miles from the Court House, at 
$20,000, and there were two minor offers. Taking the highset valuation of the princi- 
pal site, the total bid of Peoria was $80,032. 

The bid of McLean County was so far ahead of Peoria, the next competitor, that 
the Board of Education located the Normal University in accordance with the condi- 
tions of the subscription, on the 160 acres of fine rolling land within three-quarters of 
a mile from the junction of the Illinois Central and Chicago & Alton Railroads. 

Great must have been the rejoicing at Bloomington on receipt of the glad news of 
success, after a contest of such intensity ; but we, who look back over twenty years, can 
scarcely imagine the interest of the occasion. 

The Board of Education made the location upon the condition that the full amount 
of the McLean County subscription of $70,000 should be legally guaranteed within 
sixty days, in default of which, the location was to be made at Peoria. They employed 
Abraham Lincoln to draw up a form of bond or guaranty to be signed by responsible 
citizens of Bloomington. This guaranty is a matter of such historical interest that we 
produce it entire, with the list of guarantors, prefacing this with the remark that this 
bond was thought to be necessary on account of the danger that a future County Court 
might reconsider the appropriation, and the further doubt whether the swamp-lands 
would be sold for cash soon enough to meet contracts for the building about to be 
erected. 

GUARANTY. 

Whereas, on the lotli day of May, 1857, the Executive Committee of the Board of Educa- 
tion of the State of Illinois passed a resolution in the words and figures following, to wit : 

"Resolved, That we require of the citizens of Bloomington a guaranty that the sum of 
$14,000 be paid on the 1st day of August next, and the further sum of |14,000 on the 1st day of 
November next, and the further sum of $14,000 on the 1st day of February next, and the further 
sum of $14,000 on the 1st day of May next, and the remaining sum of $14,000 on the 1st day of 
August, 1858, if called for by the Board, to enable them to erect the building of the Normal 
University, on the McLean County subscription." 

Now, therefore, we, the undersigned, in consideration that the said McLean County subscrip- 
tion be accepted by said Board of Education, and the said Normal University be located at the 
place and in accordance with the conditions indicated in and by said McLean County subscrip- 
tion, do hereby guarantee, each, to the extent of the sum set opposite his name, and no further^ 
the payment to said Board of Education the several sums specified in said resolution, and to be 
made at the times therein required. And in case of any actual default, we are to share with 
each other, pro rata, according to the several sums set opposite our names. 

May 15, 1857. 



K. H Fell 15,000 

Jesse W. Fell 5,000 

J. E. McClun 5,000 

A. B. Shaffer 5,000 

A. Gridley 5,000 



George Bruener |1,000 

R. R. Landon 5,000 

R. Leach 500 

W. McCuUough 3,000 

H. Rounds 5,000 



121 



George Park $5,000 

J. H. Moore 3,000 

A.J. Merriman 1,000 

John Dawson 1,000 

William R. Chew 500 

A. VV. Rogers 2,000 

E. R. Roe 500 

R. T.Stockton 500 

J. C. Walker 2,000 

J. H. Robinson 1,000 

William F. Flagg 5,000 

Overman & Mann 1,000 

William E. Foote 1,000 

D. D. Haggard 500 

Denton Young 3,000 

W. W. Lusk 3,000 

C. Baker 3,00() 

Joseph Payne 5,000 

M. Pike 1,000 

S. B. Hance 5,000 

C. W. Holder 2,000 

S. P. Morehouse 1,000 

N. Dixon 1,000 

Charles Roadnight 5,000 

Franklin Price 3,000 

William W. Orme 5,000 

W. W. Lusk cSl Company 5,000 

William T. Major 5,000 

D. L.Crist 2 000 

Theron Pardee 5,000 

George W. Stipp 5,000 

W. H. Temple 3,000 

James Niccolb 3,000 

James Bronson 500 

Edward D. Benjamin 1,000 

E. W. Bakewell 5,000 

Dr. H. Schroeder 1,000 

H. H. Painter 3,000 I 

Their guaranty was never enforced, as it was found that some of the lands were 
sold for cash, others on credit and the proceeds used in the building, and it also hap- 
pened there was no trouble about the county appropriation, as it was confirmed by the 
new court in the spring of 1 858. This new court consisted of a Board of Supervisors, 
the county having adopted township organization at the fall election in 1857. This 
guaranty, however, was made in good faith, was of great value at the time, and is one 
of the important steps taken to secure the Normal University. 

It will also be interesting to read the list of subscribers, which we give. The 
following is a list of subscriptions that were nearly all given with the single condition 
that the institution should be located at some point within one mile of the corporate 
limits of Bloomiogton : 

.Jesse W. Fell, $500, payable in six and twelve months after location is made ; also, ten 
acres for site, to be selected anywhere, valued at $2,000. 

C. W. Holder, $200, payable in six and twelve months. 

S. D. Rounds, $300, payable in six and twelve months. 

William W. Orme, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 

R. 0. Warriner, $100, payable in six and twelve months after the building commences. 

A. B. Shaffer, $600, payable in six and twelve months. 

Park & Brother, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 

Robert Leach, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 

R. R. Landon, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 



H. J. Eager $5,000 

Z. Lawrence 2,000 

John Magoun 5,000 

Leonard Swett 3,000 

James Grover 3,000 

A. W. Moore 3,000 

0. Ellsworth 1,000 

L. Bunn 1,000 

Z. S. Hoover 3,000 

S. E. Kenyon & Son 1,000 

David Brier 5,000 

A. Johnstone 500 

R. Thompson & Co 1,000 

S.G.Fleming 1,000 

C. W. Lander 500 

John Rouse 2,000 

S. S. Adolph 1,000 

J.C. Slening 1,000 

E. H. Rood 1,000 

John J. Price 5,000 

Joseph Ludington 1,000 

0. Rugg 1,000 

N. B. Heafer 2,000 

Keays & Brother 500 

S. Galagher 1,000 

Birch & Brothers 1,000 

Elihu Rogers 2,000 

E. M.Philips 1,000 

J. F. Humphreys 1,000 

C.Wakefield 1,000 

W. Wyatt 5,000 

A. J. Warner 5,000 

J. N. Ward , 5,000 

E. Hartry 5,000 

James L. Rice 1,000 

W. P. Withers 1,000 

Jesse Adams 1,000 



122 

<3eorge Dietrich, $50, payable in six and twelve months. 
Leonard Swett, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
W. Thomas, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
A. & 0. Barnard, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
J. E. McClun, $500, in real estate at cash prices. 
Isaac Mitchell, $-50, payable in six and twelve months. 
William E. Foote, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
James P. Keen, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
S. B. Hance, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
Hance & Taylor, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
Oorydon Weed, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
John R. Smith, $50, payable in six and twelve months. 
R. Y. Stockton, $50, payable in six and twelve months. 
O. Ellsworth, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
Lewis Bunn, $100, payable in eight and twelve months. 

E. Thorp, Smith & Co., $100, payable in six and twelve months. 
John Magoun, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 

C. P. Merriraan, $50, payable in six and twelve months. 

F. K. Phoenix, $100, payable in one and two years. 
F. Price, $100, payable in one and two years. 

E. Thomas, $200, payable in one and two years. 
Denton Young, $100, payable in one and two years. 
W. W. Taylor, $200, payable in one and two years. 
K. P. Taylor, $150, payable in one and two years 

K. H. Fell, $100, payable in good notes, to be made payable in one and two years from the 
1st of June next, provided the said institution is located within two miles of the corporate limits 
of the city of Bloomington. 

Jesse W. Fell, $500, payable by the conveyance of 100 acres of land, of average value, 
in Range 4 west, of Jackson County, 111., on completion of building. 

The list which follows is made up principally of those who limited their subscrip- 
tion to a location within three-fourths of a mile of the junction of the Illinois Central 
and Chicago & Alton Railroads. These individuals, owned land in North Bloom- 
ington, or adjoining, or near by, and hence had, most of them, a direct interest in the 
location. Several of these made smaller unconditional subscriptions. C. W. Holder, 
for instance, would give $200, wherever the institution might be located, and $800 
more provided North Bloomington were the fortunate point. The most of this, with 
that in the preceding list, was limited, practically, to the site which was chosen, it being 
within one mile of the corporate limits of Bloomington, and also within three-fourths of 
a mile of the crossing of the two railroads : 

Jesse W. Fell, $2,000 (including a subscription of $500 already made"), payable in one, two, 
three, four and five years : Provided, not less than $10,000 more can be added to this subscription, 
and not less than eighty acres of land ; the first $500 to be expended in making a good side or 
foot walk to the .Junction from University. 

Swett & Orme, $1,500 (including a subscription of $200 already made), payable in one and 
two years : Provided, not less than $10,000 more can be had to this subscription, and not less 
than eighty acres of land. 

C. W. Holder, $1,000 (including a subscription of $200 already made), payable in one and 
two years : Provided, not- less than $10,000 more can be had to this subscription, and not less 
than eighty acres of land. 

F. K. Phoenix, $1,500 (including a subscription of $100 already made), payable one-half 
in nursery stock or ornamental planting on said site, and the balance in one and two years. 



123 

R. R. Landon, $1,000 (includiug a subscription of f 100 already made), payable in one and 
two years. 

F. Price, $300 (including a subscription of $100 already made), payable in one and two 
years. 

Robert Ulrich, $300, payable in one and two years. 

William Dooley, $500, payable in one and two years. 

A. Gridley & Co., $1,150, dischargeable by a conveyance of eleven and one-half acres of 
land, situated in North Bloomington, and in tracts adjoining on the north. 

John Magoun, $700 (including a subscription of $100 already made), payable in one and 
two years. 

William Hill, $400, payable in one and two years. 

0. M. Colman, $1,000, payable in one and two years, or dischargeable by the conveyance, 
within one year, of ten acres of land in North Bloomington. 

Jeshua R. Fell, $500, payable in one or two years, or dischargeable by the conveyance, 
within one year, of five acres of land off the south end of my home farm, east of the railroad, 
at my option. 

0. T. Reeves, Jr., $500, payable in one and two years. 

Elihu Rogers, $500, payable in one and two years. 

William E. Foote, $200 (including $100 already subscribed), payable in one and two years. 

Robert A. Dalzell, $250, payable in one and two years. 

Thomas Junk, $500, payable in one and two years, or dischargeable by the convyeancc' 
within one year, of five acres of land in the northwest corner of my farm, at my option. 

Norvel Dixon, $200, payable in one and two years : Provided, I succeed in getting a good 
title to the northeast quarter of Section 22, Township 24 north. Range 2 east. 

W. W. Taylor, $600, payable in one and two years, including a subscription already made 
of $200. 

K. P. Taylor, $500, payable in one and two years, including a subscription already made 
of $150. 

J. S. Walker, $200, payable in one and two years, if located on the Arny property. 

Overman & Mann, $1,200, payable in one, two and three years, one-half in nursery stock, 
hedging and ornamental planting, first and second years ; and balance cash, second and third 
years. 

L. R. Case, $200, payable in one and two years in cash, or dischargeable within one year 
by the conveyance of two acres of ground in North Bloomington, and adjoining on the north, at 
my option. 

K. H. Fell, $500, payable in notes to be due in three years from the 1st of .Tune next. 

John Rouse, $200, payable in one and two years from the 1st of .June next. 

W. H. Allin, $1,100. payable on the completion of the building, by the conveyance of the 
following lots : Lot 7, Block 1 ; Lot 5, Block 2 ; Lot 13, Block 13 ; Lots 14 and 15, Block 23 ; 
and Lot 9, Block 24 — all of Western Addition to Bloomington. 

William T. Major, $000, payable on the completion of the building, by a conveyance of Lot 
No. One (1), Section 16, Township 25, R. 2 east, containing forty acres. 

George P. Howell, $150, payable in one, two and three years, equal installments. 

Jesse W. Fell, $7,000, payable, on the completion of the University Building, by the con- 
veyance of 1,450 acres of my Jackson County lands, situated in Towns 8 and 9 south. Ranges 4 
and 5 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and to be of average value with my other lands in 
said townships, to be selected by disinterested persons. 

The next list is mostly made of those who subscribed on condition that the institu- 
tion should be located at some point within three miles of the corporate limits of Bloom- 
ington. 

Dietrich & Bradner, $200, one-half payable in nine months and balance in eighteen. 

Poston & Didlake, $100, one-half payable in nine months and balance in eighteen. 

S. P. Morehouse, $100, one-half payable in six months and balance in twelve. 



124 

D. L. Crist, $100, within ono mile of Bloomingfon, one-half in six months, balance in 
twelve months, and $100 more if located within one-half mile of .Junction. 

A. C. Washburn, $50. 

Harwood & Rugg, $200, one-half payable in nine months and balance in fifteen, if located 
one-half mile from .Junction. 

John Denman, $100, on condition that said school is located within one and one-half miles 
of Bloomington. 

E. K. Crothers, $.50, one-half in nine months and balance in one year. 
R. E. Woodson, $50, one-half in six months and balance in one year. 

Thomas Carlile, $200, one-half in six months and balance in twelve months if located 
within one mile of the corporate limits. 

C. Weed, $500. 

Samuel Watson, $200, in one and two years. 

0' Donald & Warner, $300, in one and two years. 

C. W. Lander, $50. 

E. Barber & Co., $50. 

R. B. Harris, $25. 

A. Steel, $25. 

E. Martin, $100, in one and two years. 

T. J. Karr, $25. 

C. Wakefield, $50, in one and two years. 

Giles A. Smith & Graham, $50, in one and two years. 

Samuel Colvin, $25. 

John McMillan, $25, in one and two years. 

A. J. Nason, $25, in one and two years. 

J. Bronson, $25, in one and two years. 

A. Sutton, $25, in one and two years. 

.J. W. Lichenthaler, .$25, in one and two years. 

.J. B. Crouch, $25, in one and two years. 

K. Thompson, $25, in one and two years. 

J. W. Moore, $50, in one and two years. 

Orin Small, $100, in one and two years. 

James Grover, $100, in four yearly payments. 

E. M. Phillips, $100, in four yearly payments. 

The subscriptions in this last list, as well as those in the first and second classes, 
were, by the terms of their subscription, included among the donations to the Normal 
University. 

In addition to the above, we find that Joseph Payne and Meshack Pike donated 
the site where the institution was located, consisting of about sixty acres, with enough 
more on the west to make their gift about eighty acres, the whole valued at about 
$22,000. Mr. E. W. Bakewell and Judge David Davis, each gave forty acres, valued, 
altogether, at |16,000. The whole of the last-mentioned eighty acres, and some of the 
other, is west of Main street, and is the land designed to be used by the agricultural 
department of the institution. 

The list we have given speaks for itself. It is a record of liberality, which, at the 
time it was made, was unparalleled, and caused great comment all over the country. 
We should not forget that the most valuable part of the subscription — that which really 
was of the most solid importance — was the county subscription. This was voted by the 
County Commissioners— Judge A. J. Merriman, of Bloomington, and his Associates, 
Hon. Milton Smith, of Pleasant Hill, and Hon. H. Buck, of Le Roy, in a quiet, 
almost private session, with no opportunity to consult their constituents. 



125 

In the fall of 1857, these gentlemen were all re-elected to the same positions; and 
when the Board of Supervisors, in the following year, ratified their proceedings, appoint- 
ing A. J. Mcrriman Swamp-Land Commissioner, it was seen that McLean County fully 
sustained the County Court in its disposition of so large a portion of the swamp-land 
funds. 

The Board of Education appointed an architect — George P. Randall, of Chicago — 
who prepared plans and specifications, upon which bids were called for in the papers of 
Alton, Galena, Springfield, Peoria, Chicago and Bloomington. Fifteen bids were made, 
ranging in price from §80,000 to $115,000. The contract was awarded to Mortimer 
& Loburg, and T. H. Soper, of Chicago, for the sum of S83,000, the work to be com- 
pleted September 1, 1858. The corner-stone was laid September 29, 1857. On this 
occasion there was quite an impressive ceremony. Rev. H. J. Eddy, of the Baptist 
Church of Bloomington, offered a prayer. Prof D. Wilkins read a letter from Gov. 
Matteson, appropriate to the occasion. W. H. Powell, State School Superintendent, 
deposited in the corner-stone, a copy of the school laws and of the different educational 
journals of the day. 

Mr. Jesse W. Fell deposited a list of all the contributors to the location of the 
Normal, and hoped to see the institution develop into a complete State University, with 
a model farm and agricultural college. 

Dr. E. R. Roe, the editor of the Illinois Baptist, deposited all the Bloomingtcjn 
papers of the time, and made a very appropriate speech. Judge A. J. Merriman, of 
the County Court, placed the upper stone in position when the ceremony was completed. 

Before winter, quite a large amount of work had been done upon the stone foun- 
dation of the lower story, and about 830,000 was expended before the work was sus- 
pended for the winter season. 

The financial crisis of 1857, which commenced in the month of September, was 
the means of causing a discontinuance of the work on the building. The county lands 
could not be sold for cash ; many of the subscribers were crippled, and it was thought 
best by the State Board to wait a few years, till money matters might become easier, 
and hence the buildings were not fully completed until the early part of 1861. During 
1859 and 1860, work was pushed with sufficient vigor to see the building inclosed in the 
winter of 1859, and far enough advanced so that the graduating exercises of the first 
class were held at the new building in June, 1860. 

Temporary rooms had been secured by the State Board at Major's Hall, in Bloom- 
ington, where, on the 5th day of October, 1857, Charles E. Hovey, Principal, and Ira 
Moore, Assistant, opened the Normal School with 29 pupils, whose numbers increased 
during the academic year to a total of 127. Major's Hall continued to be used until 
the fall term of 1860, when the Normal building was far enough finished to be occupied 
by the entire institution. Several of the rooms were not completed till late in the 
winter, at which time the State made an appropriation of $65,000 to pay debts which 
' had accumulated against the Board of Education. The building cost more than the 
sum first agreed upon, owing, in part, to advanced cost of materials. Included in the 
appropriation is a large sum for heating and furnishing the building and for miscel- 
laneous matters. A portion of this money was lost by the failure of so many banks in 
the spring of 1861, and for other reasons it was found necessary for the next Legis- 
lature to appropriate $35,000 more before all bills were fully paid. The total cost of 



126 

the building, with all the incidental expenses, and the amount asked for books and 
furniture up to 1863, was about $200,000 ; but had the building been completed near 
the time it was started, the total cost would probably not have exceeded $100,000, 
reckoning simply the cost of the building. It should be stated that McLean County 
honorably met its subscription according to its terms, and that nearly all the private 
individuals paid, though, as before stated, the State Board of Education did not enforce 
the subscriptions at the time most of them were payable. 

The Normal building is located about two miles north of the McLean County 
Court House, on an elevated plateau, commanding a splendid view of Bloomington and 
the surrounding country. At the time of its erection, the adjacent lands were princi- 
pally utilized for agricultural purposes ; but since that time, the beautiful suburban vil- 
lage of Normal, with its elegant villas, lovely parks, classic church-spires and wealth of 
flowers and shade-trees, has clustered around it, making as fine a combination of nat- 
ural and artificial landscapes as can be found in the entire West. 

The building is admirably arranged for collegiate use. Its dimensions are 160 feet 
in length ; the end wings are 100 feet in width, and the central portions, 80 feet. The 
distance from the basement to the extreme height of the tower is 140 feet. The base- 
ment is divided into apartments, used, respectively, as a chemical and zoological labora- 
tory, scientific lecture-room and dissecting-rooms. These are furnished with the neces- 
saries for thorough, practical tests and demonstrations in the various branches. The remain- 
der of the basement is occupied by the janitor's rooms and the heating apparatus, hot 
air and steam being both utilized. Here, also, may be found reels of hose, connected 
with the reservoir, located near the roof, which furnish sufficient water-pressure to 
extinguish any ordinary outbreak of fire. 

The first floor is exactly symmetrical in its divisions, the adjacent sides and oppo- 
site ends corresponding precisely with each other in the size of the apartments. The 
north side is divided into four recitation-rooms, occupied by the grammar and high 
schools. The corner rooms on the south side are large, convenient dressing-rooms. 
The primary department serves as a training-school for teachers. Here, the pupils of 
the normal department witness the theoretical, practical and disciplinary work of teach- 
ing, demonstrated by Prof Metcalf and his assistants. Pupils are required to take 
charge of primary classes, aifording them an excellent opportunity to put into practice 
the theories imbibed by observation. The reception-room, in the central front, is a neat 
apartment, carpeted with Brussels and furnished with' upholstered chairs and sofas, the 
walls hung with portraits, and, on one side, adorned with an elegant gilt-framed mirror. 

Ascending to the second floor, we find the assembly-rooms occupying the entire 
width of the building, with seats and desks for 270 pupils. The remainder of this 
floor is divided into eight recitation-rooms, the library and reading-rooms. The library 
contains about one thousand two hundred volumes of choice, standard reference-books. 
The reading-room contains files of prominent literary and news journals. 

The third floor contains five compartments — the museum. Normal Hall and the 
two society-rooms, the latter occupying the west end ; they are 30x50 feet each, and 
seat 250 persons. They are similarly furnished, each with a well-selected library, a 
piano and other appropriate articles, all of which are the property of the societies. The 
Pliadelphian and Wrightonians hold their regular literary exercises once a week. The 
Normal Hall is 80 feet square and 20 feet in width, with a seating capacity of about 



127 

800 persons. The museum occupies the east end, and contains a very valuable collec- 
tion, of great interest to the student as well as interesting to visitors, and is valued at 
nearly $100,000. 

Charles E. Hovey was the first President, from 1857 to 1861, followed by Perkins 
Bass, for the years 1861 and 1862. Richard Edwards became President in 1862, and 
filled the position with great ability until 1876, when Mr. E. C. Hewitt, who had been 
an assistant in the institution from 1858, was selected by the State Board of Educa- 
tion, and has been President to the present time. 

The following gentlemen and ladies constitute the present Normal Faculty : Edwint 
C. Hewett, LL. D., President, Professor of Mental Science and Didactics ; Thomas 
Metcalf, A. M., Principal of the Training Department ; Albert Stetson, A. M., Pro- 
fessor of Language and Reading ; John W. Cook, Professor of Mathematics ; Henry 
McCormick, Professor of History and Geography ; Stephen A. Forbes, Director of Sci- 
entific Laboratory ; Minor L. Seymour, Professor of Natural Science ; Lester A. Bur- 
rington, A. M., Professor of Latin and Greek and Principal of the High School; Mrs. 
Martha D. L. Haynie, Professor of Modern Languages ; Miss Armada G. Paddock, 
First Assistant, Training Department ; Charles DeGarmo, Second Assistant, Training 
Department ; Miss Rosalie Miller, Teacher of Drawing ; Miss Bandusia Wakefield, 
First Assistant Normal School; Miss Flora Pennell, Second Assistant Normal School. 

During the year ending June, 1878, the number of students in the normal proper 
was 4-17 ; and in the high, grammar and primary schools connected with the institu- 
tion, there were 235. 

Since the Normal University first started, nearly four hundred pupils have taken 
the full three-years course and graduated, while nearly seven thousand diiferent students 
have availed themselves of its advantages. The institution has done a greater work 
with those pupils who have attended a portion of the course than with the limited num- 
ber whoso means enabled them to avail themselves of the entire curriculum. 

When the Normal Building was ready for occupancy, in the fall of 1860, the vil- 
lage of Normal comprised only about thirty houses, and a large number of the students 
resided in Bloomington during the first two years; but by the fall of 1862, there were 
enough tenements to accommodate all who desired board at Normal. From this time 
forward, the number of permanent residents in Normal rapidly increased, and probably 
the year 1863 maybe taken as the time when the village had become in reality, distinct 
and separate from Bloomington, with definite aims of its own. Houses went up on 
every side, retail stores, began to be started, and Normal was a town of 1,000 inhab- 
itants as early as 1865. 

The total expenses of the Normal Department from July 1, 1877, to February 1, 
1879, were $-12,092, the whole of which were paid by the State. The total receipts from 
the Model Department for the same time, $5,776 ; expenses, $5,635. The expenses of 
running this school are met by the tuidon foes charged to the pupils, only about thirty 
of the smallest being admitted free. These last are needed in order that the pupils in the 
Normal Department may acquire experience in the training of children. The Normal 
University has taken a high rank among similar institutions, and has a firm hold upon 
the hearts of the leading educators of the State. Its graduates have acquitted them- 
selves with hunor, some of them having been chosen to fill loading positions in normal 
schools in other States. Its influence is felt not only in every part of Illinois, but 



128 

throughout the entire West. It is an institution of which the State may well be 
proud, and is an honor to the community in which it is located. 

soldiers' orphans' home. 

While our civil war was raging, many plans were discussed for the future care of 
the disabled soldiers, and for the orphan children of those who might lose their lives in 
the country's service. As early as January 19, 18G4, there was a meeting at the Court 
House in Bloomington, at which quite a number of citizens and several officers and sol- 
diers who happened to be at home on furlough, were present. A motion was offered by 
Col. McNulta, of the Ninety -fourth Illinois, propo>ing a resolution to appoint a commit- 
tee to memorialize the Legislature in regard to preparing a home for soldiers' orphans. 
This motion was seconded by Lieut. Col. Roe, of the Thirty-third Illinois Regiment, and 
it was can ied unanimously. Other parties in diff"erent portions of the State, about the 
same time, re-echoed the sentiments of this meeting, and the movement here started re- 
sulted in the passage of an act of the Legislature, February 7, 1865, without a dissenting 
vote, which is " An act to establish a home for children of deceased soldiers." This law 
was not found quite operative, and, during the winter of 1867, it was further amended. 
The new law provided for a Commission to locate the home, and for trustees who should 
manage the same. It appropriated the sum of $70,000 toward erecting a suitable 
building. Gov. Oglesby added to this the sum of $30,000, which was in his care, known 
as the " Deserters' Fund." This money had been left in the hands of the Governor by 
men who had enlisted for bounties, and after enlistment had deserted or died, and left no 
heirs, and it seemed best to appropriate it to some worthy object. The citizens of Normal 
•under the lead of Mr. Jesse W. Fell, organized a movement in April, to secure, if possible, 
the location of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The Commission for its location consisted 
of Dr. H. C. Johns, of Decatur, Col. W. Niles, of Belleville, Maj. John M. Beardsley, 
of Rock Island, Col. J. H. Mayborne, of Geneva, and Col. T. A. Marshall, of Chai-leston. 

Rock Island off"ered 100 acres of land, valued at $10,000; cash, $5,000; total, 
$15,000. Decatur offered 22 acres of land. Irvington, Washington County, offered 
40 acres. Springfield's offer was 20 acres of land, valued at $20,000 ; cash, $40,000 ; 
total, $60,000. The location offered by Springfield was not desirable, and when it was 
compared with the offer of Normal, the Commission, on the 3d of May, 1867, unani- 
mously voted to locate the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Normal. As a matter of histor- 
ical reference, we give the list of donors : 

D. Davis, 80 acres, valued at $12,000 

J. W. Fell, 2,000 acres, valued at 10,000 

K. H. Fell, S. E. 21, 15, 1, valued at.... 2,000 

W. H. Mann, land valued at 1,000 

H. P. Taylor, 20 acres, valued at 2,400 

W. A. Pennell 1,000 



W. G. Parr $200 

S. A. Overman 300 

M. D. Seward 200 

James Kelley 100 

Thomas S. Underbill 150 

B. Smith 120 

J. S. Walker, land valued at .375 ' C. D. .James 300 

N. Dixon, N. J N. E. 12, 25, 4, valued 1,000 : Joshua Brown 150 



F. K. Phoenix, 20 acres, valued at 2,500 

0. M. Colman, payable in six and 

eighteen months 250 

L. A. Hovey, payable in six and twelve 

months 500 

L. Dillon, five acres, valued at 400 

W. H. Allin 1,000 

John Worden i 200 

Jackson Hukill 200 

C. G. McClure 1,600 

1. R. Gaston 400 



Thomas Bates 100 

G. Dietrich 1,000 

Thomas Fell 100 

W. W. Bright 125 

S. J. Reeder 50 

J. E McLlun 500 

Chicago & Alton Railroad in freights at 

tariff rates 10,000 



Total $.50,220 



129 

Mr. Jesse W. Fell's offer was finally made at S10,OuO, nearly all cash, the balance 
in materials, thus making it to him a very costly donation. Judge Davis' gift of land, 
afterward, at the request of the Board, modified to sixty-five acres, could, at the 
time, probably have been sold for the full amount at which it was valued in the list. As 
will be seen, nearly all of the donors were Normal citizens, and this liberality toward an 
institution, which does not, trom its nature, call for the building of many residences or 
bring to the village much business, is truly most remarkable, and shows that the inhab- 
itants of the place appreciate the pecuniary value of educational institutions. 

The Board of Trustees, as soon as possible, let the contract for the Home building, 
and, on the 17th of June, 1869, it was dedicated to the use designed. The cost of the 
structure is placed in the books of the institution at $125,000. It is 140 
feet long, eighty feet wide, and four stories high. In the east end of the 
basement story are the girls' playrooms, bathroom and storeroom, and the place 
where the girls' clothing is manufactured. In the west end, we find the boys' 
playroom, bathroom and storeroom, while between the two departments is the large 
•dining-hall. On the next floor is the reception parlor, with the officers' rooms 
in th'd front, while at the east end is the library and reading-room, which contains a fine 
library of 1,300 volumes. In this end, we find also the nursery for very small chil- 
dren. In the western portion of this floor are two large dormitories, which contain 
beds for about fifty children, and there are smaller dormitories and other rooms for 
various purposes. On the third floor, we find the large chapel in front, in which is a 
fine pipe organ. There are also dormitories on this floor. On the upper floor is one 
very large dormitory in front, others in the ends, with hospital accommodations, both 
for boys and girls. The whole building is warmed with steam, is lighted with gasoline 
gas made on the premises, is furnished with iron fire-escape ladders, and with ropes and 
all appliances for fire purposes. In the rear are the kitchen, laundry and boiler-house, 
erected in 1872, at a cost of $(3,000. Here we find the most approved arrangements 
for cooking and heating, and for taking care of the children. The schoolhouse stands a few 
rods east of the main building, and was built in 1872 at a cost of $15,000. It has six 
schoolrooms, where 7 teachers take care of the 312 pupils now in the institution. The 
State may well be proud of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. It is under the care of a 
Board of three Trustees, who are Gen. John I. Rinaker, of Carlinville ; Gen. J. C. 
Black, of Danville, and Duncan M. Funk, of Bloomington. Dr. J. L. White is Phy- 
sician ; Clark N. Gill, Secretary, and Isaac N. Philips, Treasurer, all of Bloomington. 
Mrs. Virginia C. Ohr is Superintendent. She commenced her labors in this institution 
June 1, 1869, a short time previous to the dedication of the building. Before this, she 
had been at Springfield for eighteen months in charge of about ninety orphans, who 
were brought to Normal in June. There had been about ninety children in Blooming- 
ington for the same time at temporary homes — one on North Main street, west of the 
Wesleyan University, and the other at the corner of Prairie and North streets. 
The annual expenditures of the State in behalf of soldiers' orphans at this institution 
have been from $30,000 to $45,000 per annum. This noble charity is but a small por- 
tion of the country's debt to the brave men who risked their lives in the defense of the 
country. It is accomplishing a great work, and is one of the State institutions which 
seems to have little difficulty in securing appropriations. 



180 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The township of Normal contains only one small tract of timber-land, the whole of 
-the balance being among the richest and finest prairie to be found in the State. There 
are no swamps of any magnitude, and no large streams. Sugar Creek and its branches 
become noticeable in times of high-water, overflowing wide tracts along the banks, 
most of which, however, are seldom covered with water long cnougb to render it liable 
to be included in the category of waste land, as it produces abundant crops in spite of 
its occasional submersion. The timber-land referred to is at the extreme southern 
edge of the township of Normal. 

Here, of course, along the borders of Little Grove, now called Major's Grove, we 
shall find the early settlement of the town, though at first included in the precinct of 
Bloomiiigton, and being at a later day, down to the present time, a part of the corporation 
of Bloomington, it will be really diflSeult to include its history with that of Normal. 
Still, as our work deals with these matters territorially, we will give a sketch of the 
early settlement of Major's Grove, as well as a slight mention of the more recent devel- 
opment of the prairie portion of the township. 

The first entry of Government land in the Grove was made by Robert II. Peebles 
August 11, 1830. Peebles seems to have been the first genuine land speculator of 
this region, as his name appears frequently in the earlier entries. He lived at Vandalia, 
111., and loaned money to the pioneers. His entry was the east half of the southeast 
quarter of Section 3jJ — eighty acres. This tract includes the present Water Works and 
stove-foundry. Achilles Deatherage appears to have been the first settler in (he Grove, 
about the year 1831. His residence was in the central or western portion, while, a 
little later in the same year, Robert Guthrie occupied a log cabin in the eastern part, 
and lived there for some time. 

Most of the Grove was purchased, in 1835, by Rev. W. T. Mojor, and it has since 
been called Miijor's Grove. Here he built a residence, and at a later date, in 1855 and 
185G, he erected the fine educational building, since called Major's College. Its cost was 
over S1G,000, and its value, with the land, was $20,000. This was occupied as a young 
ladies' seminary for several years, though at first intended to be a female orphan schooL 
At times, it was well filled with students from Eloomington and Central Illinois, having 
been occupied as late as 1867. Mr. Major was one of the leading members of the 
Christian denomination. He gave liberally to schools and colleges of that Church, and 
finally decided to present it this fine building. A full Board of Trustees was appointed^ 
and an efi"ort made to operate the College as a denominational institution, but it was not 
very successful, owing, mainly, to the fact that "he Christian Church was interested in 
several other Western colleges. This magnificent gift from one of the noblest Christian 
gentlemen of the age, is almost without a parallel. The College building is still stand- 
ing, a monument to his memory. 

It seems that there is nothing of very special public interest connected with the 
early settlement of Normal Township. Down to the adoption of township organization 
in 1858, the residents of the townships were attached to the precinct of Bloomington, 
and its early history is almost inseparable from that of the latter town. The prairio- 
land was gradually punhascd and occupied, until, by the year 1850, there were a good 
many farms under cultivation. There was, however, rather a rapid demand for the 



131 

lands during the speculative era of 1836. In that year, John Woods and N. E. Hall 
entered the whole of Section 4 ; P. S. Loughborough entered Section 9 ; John Grigg, 
the whole of Section 15 ; James Allin purchased Section 17; and A. Gridley bought 
Section 20. The year previous, 1835, saw the entry of Section 21, by James Allin, 
and Section 27 by Dr. John F. Henry. This rapid entry, did not, however, indicate 
immediate settlement, as most of these tracts were purchased on "speculation," and 
were not improved for many years. Some of these tracts were afterward sold for taxes. 

AH that portion of Normal Township included within the limits of the city of 
Bloomington was settled and improved, of course, with the city, and its history is 
included in that of the city proper ; just outside of this territory we shall find its his- 
tory is also nearly identical. As we go further north, the land was early improved, the 
settlements extending northward quite gradually from the center to the northern edge, 
where in the northern half there was considerable Government land as late as in 1850, 
when the Illinois Central charter granted all such tracts to that corporation. Between 
1850 and 1856, nearly all this northern portion was purchased by farmers, and improve- 
ments made thereon, though a few tracts were unbroken as late as 1862. Several thou- 
sand acres of Normal land were purchased at a very early day by Judge David Davis, 
and he still owns 2,000 acres in this township. Normal was quite well settled in 1858, 
nearly every section of land being under cultivation, unless we except the Judge Davis 
tract, near the center of the town, and few other portions which were used as a com- 
mon herding-ground. As late as 1857, the Bloomington city cows made daily journeys 
to the free pasturage offered by these open ranges. Normal farming land is all good, 
and nearly every acre of it is held at high prices. 

One of the early settlers of Normal was Mr. Elihu Rogers, whose home was on 
North Main street, where his widow now resides. He was engaged in business many 
years in Bloomington, and was always liberal-hearted, a leader in all good enterprises. 
He was one of the principal organizers of the Second Pre.sbjterian Church in Bloom- 
ington ; he contributed several thousand dollars toward the new church in 1856. Mrs. 
Rogers built the best business block in the village of Normal, in 1877. 

Charles E. Fell's nursery was started quite early — some time before 1859. It is 
one of the best collections of small fruit in Central Illinois. 

Cyrus R. Overman's nursery was noted all over the West, from 1857 to 1864. 
He was in company with Capt. W. H. Mann, and together they carried on a very large 
businei-s northeast of the Normal University, Mr. Overman was well known as a 
writer on horticultural subjects, and was in every way worthy of the affection and 
esteem in which he was held by his friends all over the State. At his death a few 
years ago, the members of the State Horticultural Society erected a beautiful monu- 
ment to his memory in the Bloomington Cemetery. 

The world-renowned nurseries of Mr. F. K. Phoenix were also in Normal Town- 
ship. These are described elsewhere in this work. A.t one titne the different nursery- 
men in Normal Township cultivated over one thousand acres of land in trees and small 
fruit. Even now, notwithstanding the falling-off in the trade, there is probably no town 
in this State that has as much ground devoted to nurseries as has Normal. Several of 
these are devoted almost wholly to raspberries, blackberries and small fruits. Among 
those who are interested both in trees and fruit, in addition to the ones mentioned, are 
H. K. Vickroy and others. 



132 

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. 

We have before mentioned that the township organization of McLean County 
dates from the spring of 1858. Previous to that time, Normal was a portion of the 
precinct of Bloomington, and voted with it on all State, national and county matters. 
The city of Bloomington, even then, extended into the township of Normal, and all the 
inhabitants of the city voted then, as now, at ward elections, and on municipal questions. 
Upon the final adoption of township organization, the six miles square north of Bloom- 
ington was named, very appropriately, Normal. 

The first town-meeting was held April 6, 1858. William Gr. Thompson was elected 
Supervisor, and John J. North, Town Clerk ; O. M. Colman and W. F. Cooledge were 
chosen Justices of the Peace. The first Commissioners of Highways were John 
McLean, W. M. Hall and Robert Larrimore. William Hill was Assessor, and Peter 
Whitmer, Tax Collector. The lamented Cyrus R. Overman was Supervisor in 1859. 
Mr. O. M. Culniau was Supervisor in 18GG and 1867. 

In 1879, the Supervisor was R. B. Chaplin, with T. C. Funk as his Assist- 
ant. The Collector was Jerome Chipman, the Assessor, J. B. Sargent, and the 
Town Clerk, W. P. McMurray. The town vote is about 1,000, when all 
brought out. The usual number of voters is from 700 to 900. The total 
population of the township, meaning thereby all who live in the six miles .square, 
must be nearly 6,000. No township census has been taken since 1870. The 
number of voters is large enough to indicate that 6,000 is not far from what the 
census of 1880 will exhibit. That portion of the township lying in the corporation of 
Normal contains a population of 2,720, and that lying in Bloomington is always counted 
with Bloomington in such a manner that it can with difficulty be separated. The 
United States census, which follows the township lines and includes all the agricultural 
people living in neither of the two municipal corporations, as well as those in the latter, 
will not be published until after 1880. 

The township of Normal, like nearly all our McLean County townships, moves 
along in a very quiet manner. £t has incurred no debt; it meddles not with the 
schools, with the State institutions, nor with Normal village. Its citizens meet and 
transact what little business there is, keep their taxes down as low as possible, elect 
their officials, and then go home and wait till it is time to repeat the same operation. 
In 1860, the population of Normal Township was 660. In 1870, the population of the 
same territory was 4,372. 

VILLAGE ORGANIZATION. 

To provide for the proper government of the rapidly-growing village, the inhabit- 
ants voted September 30, 1865, under the general law to incorporate as a town. The 
Trustees elected were L. A. Hovey, Wesley Pearce, D. P. Fyffe, John A. Rockwood 
and S. J. Reeder. 

October 2, the Trustees organized by choosing Wesley Pearce, President, and S. 
J. Reeder, Clerk. 

The first election under the charter of 1867 was held March 18 of that year, 
resulting in the choice as Trustees of W. A. Pennell, L. A. Hovey, S. J. Reeder, 
William Wilde and James Loer. 

On the 21st day of March the Trustees met, and they selected L. A. Hovey for 
President, and S. J. Reeder as Clerk. The territory included in the town corporation 



133 

of Normal is two miles square, and the center is near the northwest corner of the 
Normal building. Normal "School District" comprises the same territory, and, in 1867, 
the members of its " Board of Education " were chosen by the Town Trustees. On the 
21st day of March, 1867, the Trustees elected the first Board of Education, consisting 
of W. B. Smith, 0. M. Colman, T. S. Underbill and J. A. Sewall. Previous to this 
time, the children of the district had attended the Model School, which is attached to 
the Normal. All the property in Normal School District, except the University, or 
other property properly exempt, is taxable for school purposes ; while for corporation 
purposes, farming or horticultural lands, in ten-acre tracts or larger, are not taxed unless 
laid out in town lots, or used as residences. 

The present Board of Town Trustees is: B. F. Carpenter, President; H. G. 
Fisher, H. K. Vickroy, R. B. Chaplin and J. Chipman. As before stated, this Board 
has no power to license the sale of intoxicating liquors, and as a result it has little need 
of police or police magistrates. There are now 2,720 people within the corporation by 
actual count ; and we question if there can be found in the State a village of equal 
size with so large a number of moral and religious and well-behaved persons. The 
village is just what it was hoped it would become, when, in 1857, the State Board of 
Education selected this as the site of the future training-place for the common-school 
teachers of Illinois. Away from the temptations of a populous city, in the midst of a 
population made up largely of people who have made Normal their homes for the sake 
of its educational and social advantages, the State Normal University is admitted by 
the general public to be most happily located, while the citizens of the village are justly 
proud of the institution, which has become a model to be patterned after by all those 
States which are seeking to elevate the standard of education within their borders. 

To illustrate the energy and the~appreciation of educational institutions manifested 
by the citizens of Normal, we will mention the gallant fight it made in 1 867 for the loca- 
tion of the State Industrial College. The citizens of Normal Township voted $100,000 
of ten per cent bonds ; and besides were ready individually to pledge quite a large sum. 
The total ofi'er for the location of the college was : 

McLean County 10-per-cent bonds f;200,000 

Bloomington City 10-pei--cent bonds 100,000 

Normal Township 10-per-cent bonds 100,000 

Chicago & Alton Railroad Subscription (freight) 50 000 

David Davis, cash 25,000 

Jesse W. Fell, cash 15,000 

Citizens of Normal and Bloomington, 140-acre tract for site 40,000 

Total , $530,000 

The magnitude and liberality of this ofi'er, viewed in the light of the present value 
of money, seems almost marvelous, and yet there is little doubt that had Normal been 
successful, the Industrial College, added to the Normal University, together with other 
institutions which would naturally have been attracted thither, the investment, large as 
it seems, would have been worth all it would have cost. This is also an illustration of 
the harmony of feeling existing between Normal, Bloomington and the people of the 
county at large, a proof that we are really one in interest and feeling. In fact, so thor- 
oughly are the inhabitants of Bloomington and Normal convinced that their welfare i 
almost identical, that quite a movement has been made for their formal union under one 



134 

government. There are many weighty reasons for such a union, and it is very prob- 
able that .some future historian may tell the story of its accomplishment. At present, 
one of the chief objections on the part of Normal is the sale of liquor at retail — now 
utterly prohibited in their village — but which would probably be allowed if the two places 
were in one municipality. 

NORMAL. 

As a matter of course, we find the early settlement of the village of Normal cannot 
antedate the location of the town unless we include as residents those farmers whose land 
went to make up the two-miles square of the place itself. We have made no effort to 
trace the actual settlement of any of these farms, taking it for granted that several fam- 
ilies were living here previous to the location of the town site of " North Blooming- 
ton" in the early part of 1854. The cars ran on the Illinois Central Railroad through 
Normal in May, 1853, but, by the latter part of that year, the line of the present Chi- 
cago & Alton road was sufficiently well established to indicate where it would cross the 
Central, fixing thus the point where a town might be built, if suitable efforts should be 
made. We have elsewhere stated the facts in relation to the establishment here of the 
young village of North Bloomington in 1854, and of its change of name to Normal 
in 1858. 

When the Normal School was in Major's Hall, in Bloomington, from October, 1857, 
to June, 1860, the village of Normal was rather a dull place. As stated below, there 
were perhaps Aearly twenty families living here during this time, but there was no 
visible reason for the existence of the town, which had the appearance of being on hand 
before it was needed. The present business portion, where the blocks of stores are now 
located, was in 1858 a beautiful grass plat, remarkably smooth, looking in some respects 
like a village green in an Eastern town. In the month of June, 1858, the Normal stu- 
dents had an excursion to view the site of the future seat of learning, and on their 
return the young men liad a game of ball on the green grass where now we see the 
business part of the town, and the site was one of the best that could possibly be imag- 
ined for that purpose. The writer has a distinct and vivid remembrance of the scene, 
and to his mind the view was one of the most charming ever met. He watched 
the game as a spectator, and remembers wondering whether the town would ever grow 
enough to encroach upon what was then called by the students the " ball-ground." 
This spot was covered only with grass as late as 1863. 

While the game was going on, the railroad cars rushed past, barely stopping at the 
crossing, having rarely any business at this point. In fact, so careful were the railroads 
not to make any foolish stops in those days, that even when the material began to 
arrive for the Normal building, in the fall of 1857, there were no conveniences here for 
receiving freight, and the State Board of Education actually passed a resolution 
requesting the companies to put in side-tracks here for their convenience, which was 
done, as requested, by the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad, in a very short time thereafter. 

The first family to settle here by virtue of the demands of the town, was that of 
Mr. William McCambridge, who came as agent of the railroads in 1854, to look after 
their interests at the crossing. His family lived for a time in the rude depot-building, 
which stood in the north angle of the railroad " junction," as a crossing was often called 
in those days. Sometimes the place was called by its proper name, oftener " Blooming- 
ton Junction." Mr. McCambridge's neighbors were the Junks, Bakewells, Colemans, 



135 

Hills. Joshua Fell's family, W. F. M. Arny, the Taylors and a few others, who lived 
on^farming-lands which were wholly or partly within the present village limits. Mr. Arny 
was living on a farm just west of the University building, west of Main street. He 
was a remarkable man. He was a minister, a lecturer, an educator, a politician, a news- 
paper writer, was in short, i-eady for almost anything that might turn up in a new 
country. Though living on a farm, tradition asserts that farming was almost the only 
business he did not understand. His name frequently occurs in the history of Bloom- 
ington and Normal until the year 1856, wIiqu he was made the Secretary of the Kansas 
Free State Emigrant Aid Society, and after that date his fame became national. His 
services there, as well as here, were of great assistance to the cause of humanity. Mr. 
Arny was one of Normal's projectors and early benefactors, and is always mentioned 
with respect. He became Governor of the Territory of New Mexico, and filled the 
position very creditably for several years. He has since been an Indian agent. 

Mr. Jesse W. Fell's residence was finished in 1856, when his family moved into 
the new house, finding in the vicinity only the family of Mr. McCambridge. During 
the next year, 1857, the Normal University was located, and from that time the settle- 
ment went forward rapidly. By the close of that season, we learn of the following 
families, in addition to those before mentioned as residents of North Bloomington : 
Loran R. Case, Addison Reeder, James Maley, Stephen Dike, John J. North, John R. 
Dodge, James Carletori, John Carleton, Mrs. Taylor, William Junk and Joseph Walker. 
The Landon House, now occupied by the family of Mr. C. R. Parke, was started in 
1856. and finished in 1857. 

The University foundation was commenced in the fall of 1857, and over $30,000 
expended thereon. A foundry was also commenced, owned principally by Mr. Fell, in 
company with Mr. Reeder, but the enterprise was a failure. Some of the castings used 
in the Normal building were made here, and also the iron work for Eoyce Block in 
Bloomington. 

The financial crisis of the fall of 1857 caused a discontinuance of work on the Nor- 
mal, and this of course acted as a damper upon the new town. During the year 1858, 
and also during 1859, but few residences were erected, among which we can mention 
that of Mrs. Robinson, in 1859. In the latter year, work on the Normal building was 
pushed with great vigor, and the town began to have good prospects again. During the 
following winter, plans were made for the erection of several residences, and they were 
completed in 1860. Among these we will mention those of President Hovey, Messrs. 
Hewett and Moore, who were of the Faculty, Albert North, Wesley Pearce, William 
Flynn and Mr. J. S. Stewart. By this time, the town made quite a pleasing appearance, 
several of the residences evidencing good taste. All of Normal was most distinctly visi- 
ble from almost any point, as the trees were then in their infancy. 

When the Normal institution was opened at the new building, in the fall of 1860, 
there were not enough rooms in the village for all the students who wished board, and 
during the fall term many boarded at Bloomington. A new sidewalk was constructed 
to meet the walks in Bloomington, and it extended nearly to the corner of Main and 
Chestnut streets. When this old foot walk was new, there was some good walking done 
by Normal students of both sexes. All the boarding-houses in Normal were full to 
overflowing. There were only two houses with many rooms ; these were kept by Mrs- 
J. H. Stewart and Mrs. Grinnell, the latter in what was called the Landon House. 



136 

Normal built its first sidewalk in the fall of 1860, and it then began to take on the 
airs of a village, though it did not possess a post office, a telegraph olfiee, or stores, for 
several years. 

The first post office was opened about the year 1862, on the corner of Linden street 
and the C. & A. Railroad, in a building where there was also a store. The first Post- 
master was Robert E. Bower, and the first store was kept by a Mr. Phillips. The two 
railroads did not at first make Normal a full office, tickets having first been sold from this 
place on the Chicago & Alton road, April 4, 1864 ; William Mc Cam bridge, Jr., was the 
first agent who sold tickets and made all the regular official reports in 1864. Shortly 
after this time, he also became the first express agent ; he was also the first telegraph 
operator, in 1870. 

The Chicago & Alton Company built a depot in 1864, which was burned at the 
time of the Normal Hotel fire, February 14, 1872. Very soon after the present station- 
house was erected. The freight-house on this road was constructed in 1866 ; and in 
1871, the freight-house of the Central was built, which has since been destroyed by fire 
and replaced by another building which is a duplicate of the first. 

In the chapters relating to the public schools, churches, and the State institutions, 
we have given the dates of the erection of the buildings used by each, and we will not 
here repeat those statements. 

We should also mention that the village of Normal grew with wonderful rapidity 
from about the year 1864 to 1870. Since the latter date, improvements have been made 
quite slowly ; and at present, Normal, like all the towns in this part of the State, appears 
to be almost at a stand. It is, however, a beautiful village, noted all over the West for 
its fine appearance; for the intelligence and culture of its citizens; and is very specially 
remarkable for the trees which are so strikingly beautiful. But as we have touched 
more fully upon each of these topics in other portions of this work, we will not here 
enlarge upon them. 

Quite a large number of the best families living in Normal have become citizens 
since 1864, having come here for the express purpose of rearing their children in the 
most moral and best behaved community they could find with first-class educational 
advantages. Many of these families had accumulated enough property at farming or 
other business for a comfortable support, and have here built or purchased homes where 
they can attend to the education of their children. This element of society is a very 
important one, and, added to others that are e(fual in all respects, gives the town a good 
name and a permanency that it is hoped will grow with time until Normal will become 
a place of national reputation. 

TREES. 

Normal has obtained an enviable reputation for its beautiful trees and shrubbery. 
At the time of the locaton of the State Normal University, as we have stated, the town 
was a bare, wild-looking piece of prairie, enlivened occasionally by the smoke and noise 
of a few railroad trains, and then relapsing into desolate quiet. A beginning had been 
made, however, by Mr. Jesse W. Fell, in that great tree-planting enterprise in which he 
took such a loving interest. In the year 1856, he had planted a large number at North 
Bloomington, and at the very time of the visit of the State Board of Education to 
view the site for the Normal University, in 1857, his men were busy at tree-planting 
on the public highways. The fact of the start thus already made, together with the 



137 

interest then awakened in the matter of ornamental shrubbery, by such men as Cyrus 
R. Overman, 0. M. Coleman, W. H. Mann and F. K. Phoenix, all living in the town- 
ship, and all enthusiastic tree-planters, went far to convince the members of that Board 
that the young institution would fall into good hands, and its future be watched by 
careful men, if it should be located at this point ; and the more than twenty thousand 
beautiful trees at Normal, with the successful twenty-two years' growth of the Normal 
University, bear united witness to the foresight of the men of 1857. The zeal and 
enthusiasm of Mr. Fell in the subject of trees on our public highways, found vent before 
he had fairly commenced his labors, by giving names of trees to the streets of North 
Bloomington, at the time of recording its plat in the Circuit Clerk's office. 

Proceeding from west to east, we find Maple, Walnut, Oak, Linden and Elm 
streets ; from Sycamore, going south, we come successively to Poplar, Cypress, Willow, 
Locust, Cherry, Mulberry and Ash streets. Is not this an atmosphere of verdure? 
How could the new town help growing as the trees grew, fresh, graceful, ever increasing 
with each annual eflFort ? 

The planting of shade-trees in double rows in such a manner that the sidewalks 
are overhung by the two rows, is a novel feature — one that is duplicated in but few 
places in the land. It is said that Germantown, Penn., has similarly shaded sidewalks. 
This is the distinguishing feature of Normal. The number of these trees planted adja- 
cent to sidewalks is in the neighborhood of six thousand. There are a little over nine 
miles of streets thus shaded. There have been planted, in the streets, within the lots, 
upon the grounds belonging to the State at the two institutions, and in private parks, 
the larger part of the whole under the direct care and supervision of Mr. Fell, over 
thirty-five thousand trees, including shade, shelter and fruit trees. These trees now 
range in height from twenty to fifty feet, and give the town in summer the appearance 
of being one vast, ornamented park, with a few houses in sight, the church-spires, even, 
being then visible only at a distance of a few blocks. Well may Normal be proud of 
these shade-trees, which are monuments to the memory of those who planned and exe- 
cuted the immense work of transplanting, guarding and training these beautiful 
objects. 

Our work is not complete without an appropriate tribute to Mr. Jesse W. Fell, to 
whom, more than to any other person, Normal is indebted for its existence, for its 
beautiful trees and for the most of real public worth and value that it contains. We 
are recording public events and speaking for a thankful, proud and generous public 
heart. We are well aware that Mr. Fell enjoins silence on the part of public chroniclers ; 
that he modestly prefers no panegyric to his name and fame, but we insist upon making, 
here in this, albeit, weak, formal manner, a general acknowledgment of the public 
appreciation of the life-long labors of Jesse W. Fell. We will accept his disclaimer of 
his selfish motives in bringing together at Normal as many good iofluences as possible, 
but we must insist that we are thankful to acknowledge he had the nobility of 
heart to conceive, and the manhood and ability to carry into effect, no plans except 
those which were good ones; no projects but those whose success should inure to the 
happiness and welfare of his fellow-men. Happy the man who had the head and heart 
to realize that his own self-interest would be best subserved by engaging himself and 
others in enterprises like those which have been consummated at Normal. Thankful 
we are also that Mr. Fell took delight in planting trees ; that in this occupation he was 



138 

happy and at homo ; and that in other respects he planned and managed in the interests 
of public education, sobriety, morality and humanity. 

If we may be permitted, we wish to call attention to the magnificent park which 
surrounds Mr. Fell's residence. Here he gave scope to his passion for artistic shrub- 
bery, his love for elegant groups of beautiful trees, his fancy for such ornamentation as 
comes from the most skillful arrangement of all the different trees that will grow in 
this latitude. This park is a lasting monument to its originator, and is a possession 
shared by the public almost equally with its owner. 

CHURCHES. 

The residents of Normal Township attended the different churches in Blooming- 
ton until several years after the village had been started. The first religious services in 
the village were held in the University building in the winter of 1860-61. This was 
the first year of its occupancy, and during this winter there were Sabbath-afternoon 
union services, the different pastors of Bloomington being employed in regular rotation. 
This continued for some time and gave good satisfaction until the village had grown 
large enough to begin to have enough permanent inhabitants to form churches of the 
leading denominations, when the Congregationalists and Methodists took steps to organ- 
ize their respective churches, followed soon after by the Baptists, Presbyterians and 
Christians. There are a large number of families in Normal who are connected with 
churches in Bloomington, and who help swell the numbers included in the churches of 
that city. In this particular, as in several others, we find it very difficult to separate 
the interests of the two communities. 

The First Baptist Church of Normal was organized July 13, 1866, with thirty 
members. Bev. John H. Kent, from Holyoke, Mass., was the first Pastor. They 
built a small frame chapel, 26x40 feet, which they occupied for about three years, when 
this, from the rapid increase of membership, became too small for them. In 1871, they 
erected a fine brick house, 40x70 feet, costing $15,000, which they now occupy. The 
number of members that have united with them since their organization is 286. The 
present number is 158. The Church is now in a prosperous condition. They have a 
large Sabbath school, which is well sustained, besides a mission school at the West 
Side, which is on the increase. Their present Pastor is Bev. S. B. Gilbert. 

The Christian Church was organized in April, 1873. The first Pastor was Rev. S. M. 
Oonnor. There were only about twenty members at that date, while at present there are one 
hundred and forty. Its present Pastor is N. A. Walker. Its church-building was erected 
in 1873, and is a very comfortable and creditable structure. Its Elders are H. G. 
Fisher, John Gregory and Isaiah Dillon. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized ^September, 1865. Rev. C. D. 
James was the first Pastor. The church-building was begun in 1866, and, in the fol- 
lowing winter, the basement was ready for occupancy. The church was dedicated Janu- 
ary 7, 1868. The membership at the time of organization was 32; present number, 
175. The present Pastor is the Rev. George M. Irvin, who was appointed in 1878. 
The building is of brick, of fine design, with one tower 60 feet high, and another 119, 
and is one of the ornaments of Normal. Its cost was over $16,000. The Sabbath 
school is very flourishing, there being nearly two hundred in attendance. The Society 
was transferred to the Central Illinois Conference in 1872. 



139 

The Presbyterian Church of Normal was organized by the Presbytery of Bloom- 
ington July 3. 1868, with only ten members. The church is at the corner of Linden 
and Cherry streets. It was built in 1871 at a cost of about $2,500. It was dedicated 
February 17, 1872. At present it has about seventy members and maintains a good 
Sabbath school. Its first Pastor was the Rev. S. Hart, who remained until May, 1872, 
when his place was supplied by Rev. Dr. S. Wilson, who officiated three years. Rev. 
W. L. Boyd is the present Pastor. 

The first church-building erected by the Congregational Church was dedicated 
June 23, 1867. The Church had been organized several years previously — sometime in 
the spring of 1865 — having met for some time in the University building. Its first 
church was a very beautiful structure, having cost with the parsonage adjoining over 
$15,000. It was destroyed by fire May 30, 1873. The total loss on buildings and 
furniture was $18,000 ; insured for $7,700. This fire was a very sevei'e blow to the 
Church, but, on the 12th of September, 1879, it dedicated a new structure. The Church 
contains at present about ninety members. Its Pastor is the Rev. Albert Etheridge. 
It is probable that no other church in Bloomington or Normal has ever survived as 
heavy a loss as this one has experienced. 

NORMAL PUBLIC SCHOOL. 

We have mentioned that the first school in Normal was probably the one taught in 
1855, in a small building situated a little southeast of the residence of Mr. Jesse W- 
Fell, upon what is known on the plat of North Bloomington as Seminary Block. There 
were about fifteen children in this school. Its first teacher was Miss Brown, who is still 
living in Normal. She is a sister of Mrs. Walker. Mr. P. C. W. Lyman was the next 
teacher, followed by a very young man named William 0. Davis, who is now proprietor 
of the Bloomington Pantagraph. When the Normal institution was opened at Nor- 
mal in the fall of 1860, the children of what was known as District No. 2, embracing a 
portion of what is now the corporation and school district of Normal were all admitted 
to the Model School of the Normal, an arrangement having been efi'ected by which the 
public funds of the district were used to defray, in part, the expenses of the Model 
Department. We quote the following from President Edwards' decennial address, 
delivered at Normal June 27, 1872 : 

The Grammar School, as a separate department, was organized in September, 18(J6. Pre- 
vious to tliat time, the Model School was entirely under the supervision of the Principal of the 
High School. All this time, too, the school had included all the children of school age, in Dis- 
trict No. 2 of the town of Normal. But as the village increased, and the number of children 
multiplied, the rooms at the University became too small for their accommodation. Accordingly, 
a schoolhouse was built by the district, and, in April, 1867, the grammar and intermediate 
grades of the Model School were removed to the new building. While these grades were yet in 
the University Building, Mr. E. P. Burlingham, then of Geneseo, was appointed to conduct the 
grammar grade. But the first Principal in the new building was Mr. John W. Cook. He con- 
tinued in the position for two years, and was succeeded in September, 1868, by Mr. Joseph 
farter. Under these two gentlemen, the grammar school became a popular and efficient insti- 
tution — well graded, thoroughly organized and marked by a vigorous and positive power. At 
the beginning of Mr. Carter's principalship, the arrangement by which the children of school- 
age belonging to District No. 2 of the town of Normal had been taught in the Model School was 
annulled by a vote of the Board of Education of the State of Illinois, and the University ceased 
to exercise control over the new building erected by the district. For the last two years, the 
grammar grade has been conducted by Mr. B. W. Baker, a representative of Southern Illinois, 
and a graduate of the University in the year 1870. 



140 

This school has been held, since the date given, by Mr. Edwards, in the new brick 
school-building, which is such evidence of the good taste and refinement of the inhab- 
itants of Normal. Its cost was $16,000. The Normal public school, in 1879, num- 
bered 650 pupils. Nine teachers are employed in the different grades. Its Principal 
is A. C. Butler. 

INCORPORATED COMPANIES. 

The Bloomington and Normal Street Railway Company, was organized in the 
spring of 1867. Before the selection of its route there was a good deal of excitement. 
At one time, when the Legislature was voting upon the charter of the proposed line, 
there was a prospect that the State Industrial College would be located at Normal. Had 
the location been made, the College was to have been placed just north of the Chicago 
& Alton Railroad, on the west side of Main street. This would have fixed the street 
railroad upon Main street or some one not far off. When the time came for organiza- 
tion and location, there was quite a strife for the line a few blocks east of the street 
selected, as well as for the Main street route. The road was organized under a special 
charter. It was finished in the fall of 1867. x\t first "dummy" engines were run 
between Normal and the city limits of Bloomington, but after about two years' trial 
these engines were sold and the more reliable mule was substituted. The road is still 
owned by a corporation, but as Mr. Asa H. Moore possesses nearly the whole of the 
stock, he can be reported as being practically the full Board of Officers. We under- 
stand there is no great profit in the property, but Mr. Moore keeps it in good shape for 
the public accommodation. 

The Bloomington Stove Company's shops are in the limits of the town of Normal, 
and a large portion of the Chicago & Alton Company's repair-shops, as well as their 
rolling-mill, but these matters will properly be treated in the city of Bloomington. 

The Empire Machine-Shops in the south part of the township, were organized at 
first as a company, but have now become private property, and are managed by W. F. 
Flagg, whose money in the first place mostly built and operated the whole concern. 

RESURVEY OP NORMAL. 

From the earliest settlement of Normal Township, there were grave troubles aris- 
ing from the location of section and half-section corners. The lines of the different 
farms and the proper position of roads could scarcely be permanently placed, as each 
new surveyor would find errors in the previous survey. The trouble seemed to be that 
only the outside or township lines were ever properly fixed by the Government Sur- 
veyors. They perhaps drove stakes to indicate the section and half-section lines, but 
placed no stones at these corners. There being no trees and no permanent corners, in 
the course of a few years the fires had destroyed all boundaries. The first settlers did 
the best they could, and lines and corners were established in various ways, causing 
never-ending confusion. Some sections would over-run, others fall short of the proper 
amount. Finally, in June, 1861, in locating the schoolhouse in the Overman district, 
such grave errors in existing lines were demonstrated that, in the course of a few years 
the owners of property came to the conclusion that they would abide by a resurvey, to 
be made under provisions of an act of the Legislature. This act was obtained in the 
winter of 186-1 and 1865. It provided a commission of three — A. T. Risley, of Macon 
County ; John McGrew, of De Witt, and Z. A. Euos, of Sangamon. This commission, 



141 

in the fall of 1865, assisted by George P. Ela, of Bloomington, proceeded to survey 
and re-establish the lines of the whole township, placing them as near where they had 
been before as was practicable, and the result has been tolerably satisfactory. Each 
owner was made a party to the case by advertisement, before the survey commenced, 
causing the publication of an immense list of names. The cost — about $3,000 — was 
paid by the owners of the land. Appeals might be taken from this commission to the 
courts. All such as were carried to the Supreme Court, were settled by a decision 
which sustained the law. 

INCIDENTS. 

When the Illinois Central Railroad was constructed, the bridge over the south 
branch of Sugar Creek, not far north of the Empire Machine Works, was built of brick, 
in the shape of an arch, on the top of which was a high embankment. The long con- 
tinued rains of the spring of 1858, softened this mass of earth, and it rested with a 
heavy pressure upon the brick arch underneath, which must have been of faulty 
construction, as it was designed to carry the load with safety. One night, in the month 
of May or June, the brick-work fell, allowing the embankment thereon to drop into the 
creek. This, of course, created a dam, and, as a large amount of water was flowing at 
the time, it soon rose nearly as high as the impediment, which was probably at least 
fifteen feet. This water backed up and overflowed the farms east, rising in some cases 
into houses, frightening the sleeping inmates nearly to death. As soon as the pressure 
became suflScient, the water broke through the embankment, carrying onward with 
resistless fury large masses of masonry and earth, in some cases, lumps that would 
weigh half a ton, being moved a quarter of a mile. No lives were lost. 

In 1867, the Normal Hotel, situated near the depot, was built by W. A. Pennell, 
Jesse W. Fell and others, and cost, furnished, about $25,000. It was well kept, was a 
great favorite, and in every respect a credit to Normal. It burned in the winter of 
1872, and its loss has been severely felt by Normal. The insurance on the property was 
about $10,000, and much of it has been in litigation ever since the fire. The depot was 
destroyed at the same time, its burning being, in fact, the cause of the hotel fire. A 
foundry was built at Normal at the time of the erection of the Normal School building, 
which furnished some of the iron-work for that institution, but the enterprise failed, and 
entailed a loss of about $4,000, the most of which Mr. Pell sustained. 

Another foundry, with a stove and furnace manufactory combined, built here in the 
spring of 1877, was only able to survive a few short weeks. 

Normal is abundantly supplied with good water, not yet utilized, but known to 
exist in large quantities under ground. The well at the Orphans' Home is one of the 
best in the State. It is 112 feet deep, and furnishes an abundant supply. The well is 
tubed with iron, and the tube is three feet in diameter. An engine lifts the water to 
the surface, where another forces it to the Home, and the engine there pumps so much 
as is needed to the tank in the upper part of the building, and also performs other work. 

Normal is well known all over the West as the home of the Dillons, who have 
imported so many valuable Norman horses fiom France. Their stables are well built, 
and are at any time worth a visit, often containing single horses that sell at from $1,000 
to $4,000 Their stock is known in market as " Normans " or " Percheron Normans," 
from Percheron and Normandy, in France, where the Dillons make annual trips to 
select the best animals that can be purchased. 



142 

THE WAR FOR THE FNION. 

Normal labors under the great disadvantage of having lost a large portion of its mili" 
tary glory, from its proximity to Bloomington, which city has appropriated to itself with- 
out effort, by the natural force of circumstances, much of the military credit of Normal, 

Whenever regiments, companies or squads of soldiers were being made up in 
Bloomington, Normal and the adjoining towns helped swell the ranks, regardless of the 
little matter of credit. Many of the volunteers obtained their mail at Bloomington, 
there having been no post office at Normal until the war was well under way, and, from this 
fact, gave Bloomington as their home when the muster-rolls were being compiled, and 
hence the poor showing made at first by the new town of Normal. The fact remains, 
however, that its residents were fully as patriotic as those of Bloomington, and when 
the result of the loose method of crediting was discovered, in 186-4 and 1865, and it was 
seen that the township would need to bestir itself to furnish its quota of volunteers, 
the most vigorous efforts were made, with great success. The township raised b}- sub- 
scription a large sum of money, and it was given to volunteers who would accept of the 
large county bounty, with an additional sum from Normal, often as much as $50, and, 
by earnest work, the town's quota was always raised, and no draft was ever necessary. 
Had the matter of credit been thought of in 1861, Normal could very readily have 
secured the large number of its citizjns who were credited to Bloomington, and would 
have shown a surplus over all calls. 

The history of the famous Normal, or Thirty-third Illinois, Regiment, should be 
touched upon in this article, as it is of interest to our narrative. In April, 1861, when 
the war commenced, Joseph G. Howell, who was then Piincipal of the Model School at 
Normal, volunteered, with four or five of the students of the University. 

Howell was killed at Fort Donelson. On his departure from Normal, with sov^eral 
of the students mentioned, there was a probability that nearly all of the remainder 
would enlist before the end of the spring term. Had this happened, they would have 
been scattered through different commands, of little assistance to each other, and would 
have made no record for the institution of which they were members. 

Mr. Hovey, the President, in order to hold the school together awhile longer, pro- 
cured a drill master — Capt. White — and a military company was formed for daily prac- 
tice and drill. 

By the end of the term, July 4, 1861, this company had become well disciplined, 
and had formed plans for enlisting in a body as soon as an opportunity should be found. 

About the middle of July, Mr. Hovey went to Washington, and offered to raise a 
whole regiment of students, teachers and educational men. His offer received no 
attention for several days; but while he was waiting for an answer. Bull Run spoke ia 
beseeching tones for volunteers, and the day after that disastrous battle, his regiment 
was gladly accepted by the Secretary of War. 

Mr. Hovey returned to Normal, now Colonel, and proceeded to organize the 
regiment. He called on the educational men of the State with such success that 
by the first of September his regiment was at Springfield with nearly its full comple- 
ment of men. Company A, its first company, was made up originally from those Nor- 
mal students who had been drilling fur nearly three months previously, and contained 
most of the students who volunteered at that time, although several others took positions 
in this or in other regiments. Ira Moore, one of the teachers, raised a company 



143 

for the regiment, mainly of men from McLean County. Moses I. Morgan, Aaron 
Gove and C. J. Gill, students, together raised in Du Page, La Salle and Stark Counties 
a full company, of which they became the commissioned officers. The officers of the 
students' company (A) were : L. H. Potter — one of the teachers — Captain ; J. H. Burn- 
ham, who graduated July 4, 1861, First Lieutenant; and G. Hyde Norton, of the 
next graduating class, Second Lieutenant ; about fifty enlisted from this institution in 
the year 1861. 

Charles E. Hovey, the first President of the Normal University, went into the 
army as Colonel of the Thirty-third Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, known in the 
history of this State as the " Normal Regiment.". He was one of the bravest and best 
of the noble officers of the volunteer service ; he was commended for his skill and good 
behavior in the battle of Fredericktown, Mo,, which took place October 21, 1861. In 
the battle of " Cache River," or " Cotton Plant," in Arkansas, July 7, 1862, Col. 
Hovey greatly distinguished himself by his courage in the face of defeat, when he 
rallied the retreating soldiers under a galling fire, though wounded in the breast himself, 
re-arranged the shattered lines and bi-o ugh t victory out of what came near being a disas- 
trous defeat. For this good conduct be was appointed Brigadier General by the Presi- 
dent, his commission dating from S 'ptembcr 5, 1862. He was soon assigned to the 
command of Gen. Sherman, who placed him in charge of his advance brigade, a posi- 
tion he filled until April, 1863. Gen. Sherman gave him the highest praise for his 
efficiency. When Congress assembled in the winter of 1862 and 1863, it was not pre- 
pared to confirm the appointment of -SW of President Lincoln's Brigadier Generals, and 
limited the number of confirmations to one hundred. The President had sent in two 
names from McLean County — those of Gen. Hovey and Gen. W. W. Orme, and when 
he was obliged to revise his list, bringing it from about one hundred and fifty to the 
proper number, he felt compelled, on account of the policy of e(|ual territorial distribu- 
tion, to drop the name of Gen. Hovey, which he did very reluctantly. This threw that 
gentleman suddenly out of his position in April, 1863, and he left the army just as he 
was on the threshold of a remarkably brilliant career. In 1863, Congress granted him 
tardy juj^^tice by the compliment of a brevet .Major Generalship. 

Several of the residents of the village — students — enlisted and never returned, or 
came home to linger a few years and die. William A. Pearce and his cousin, Alvin T. 
Lewis, were both killed in battle, while Lieut. James B. Fyffis died in 1871. Edward 
J. Lewis, editor of the Bloomington I'antagrnph in 1861, assisted in forming the 
Thirty-third Regiment, enlisted as a private soldier, and afterward became Captain in 
C Company. He is now Postmaster at Normal. Col. E. 11. Roe, Gen. C. E. Lippin- 
cott and Col. I. S. Elliott were all members of this brave old regiment, which partici- 
pated in the battles before Vicksburg, Mobile, and other historical battles. Normal has 
always claimed an interest in the welfare of the Thirty-third Regiment which was known 
for years as the Normal Regiment ; and its Company A of students, though represent- 
ing thirty difierent counties in this State, contained so many Normal residents, and was 
60 essentially a product of the institution, that its memory will ever be cherished here. 
In 1862, several of the Normal students enlisted in the Ninety-fourth Regiment, which 
was raised in McLean County. These were mostly in Capt. W. II. Mann's company. 
Mr. ]\L was a nurseryman, in company with the lamented Overman, and his command 
contained more Normal men than any other that enlisted. 



144 



MISCELLANEOUS. 

The Freemasons were organized February 20, 1871. The present number ot 
members is twenty-six. The officers for 1879 are: J. S. Lackey, Master; A. T. Dick- 
erson, Senior Warden ; J. M. James, Junior Warden ; A. C. Taylor, Treasurer ; S. 
K. Vickroy, Secretary ; F. E. Baker, Senior Deacon ; J. S. Garrett, Junior Deacon ; 
James Worden and George W. Davi(ison, Stewards ; A. S. Hursey, Tiler. There are 
quite a number of gentlemen in Normal who are members of some one or more of the 
different societies in the neighboring city of Bloomington. 

We find, that though Normal does not pretend to be a commercial or manufactur- 
ing point, it transacts considerable business. Its grain-dealers purchase considerable 
quantities of produce, and its retail stores include the several branches found in towns 
of its size, consisting of drug, hardware, dry goods and grocery stores; there are, 
besides, other retail dealers. For several years after the village was started, it was 
thought all the different branches of miscellaneous business would be patronized in 
Bloomington, leaving no opening for home talent; but after a time, the greater conven- 
ience of Normal stores was so plainly demonstrated, that those dealers who first started 
business in the village found ready patronage, and their places of business were followed 
by the opening of others, all of which are now permanently established. 

In the manufacturing line. Normal's experience has been rather a severe one, as 
there can scarcely be said to be a successful manufactory in the village. There is a 
woolen-factory, capable of employing from ten to thirty operatives, but it has never been 
run to its full capacity. It is now operated on a small scale, making excellent goods 
and doing a fair business, but has not the trade that might be expected of a factory 
situated between two .such towns as Normal and Bloomington. A large paper-mill was 
built about six years ago, which, for a time, turned out large quantities of a good qual- 
ity of printing paper. For some months the St. Louis Republicaii, the Bloomington 
Pantagr aph, 'dud other journals used its paper, but the owners failed after about two 
years' trial, and the mill is now idle. 

The Normal stock-yards are quite an institution. They are situated on the east 
side of the Chicago, x\.lton & St. Louis Railroad. They can comfortably feed and 
water over a thousand cattle at once, and are a great convenience to such shippers as 
wish to rest their stock here before taking them to the Chicago market. 

We hope Normal will, in the future, retain its pre-eminence as an educntional cen- 
ter, and that it will some day see the establishment of other colleges or seminaries. If 
it can secure these, and can retain its present intelligent population, there is little doubt 
tliat it will become known as one of the best towns in the West; that its future may 
become all that its past has led us to look for, is the earnest wish of the citizens of 
McLean County. 



INDEX, 



PAGE. 

Blooming-ton 3 

Blooming- Grove in Fayette County 3 

Blooming Grove in Tazewell County 11 

James Allin 30 

Wars and Rumors of Wars 23 

The Frontier Ser-vice 23 

Blooming-ton in 1831 25 

1831 to 1840 32 

1840 to 1850 36 

1850 to 1860 37 

1860 to 1870 39 

1870 to 1879 40 

Gen. Gridley's Recollections 41 

Township Oi'ganization 46 

Town or Village Organization 47 

City Organization 48 

Schoools 49 

Churches that have Dissolved 52 

Churches 53 

Blooming-ton Sabbath Schools 58 

Cemeteries 59 

Franklin Park 60 

Railroads 61 

Our Telegraph 65 

Newspapers 66 

The Bloomington Library 67 

Wesleyan University 68 

Temperance 74 

Nurseries 78 

Coal 79 

Water 81 

Manufactories 82 



Mills 

Fires 

Public Debt 

Sewers 

Public Buildings 

Incorporated Companies. 

California Emigrants 

Remarkable Weather 

Events During the War . 
Free Masons 



90 

90 

90 

92 

93 

96 

100 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows 101 

Various Secret Societies 102 

Benevolent Societies 103 

Important German Organizations 103 

Our Highest Officials 104 

Political History 109 

Normal Township 115 

Normal University 115 

Soldiers' Orphans' Home 128 

Early Settlement 130 

Township Org-anization 132 

Village Organization 132 

Normal Village 134 

Trees 136 

Churches 138 

Normal Public School 139 

Incorporated Companies 140 

Re-Survey of Normal 140 

Incidents 141 

The War for the Union 142 

Miscellaneous 144 



